St. Hubert, St. Theresa turn out to honor dedicated teacher

Officials at St. Hubert Catholic School in Hoffman Estates canceled classes Wednesday, freeing up students, faculty and staff to attend the funeral of a beloved teacher.

Gayle Lynn Photikarmbumrung, 41, passed away Friday after a three-year battle with brain cancer. Her funeral Mass takes place at 10 a.m. at St. Hubert's, 705 Grand Canyon St. in Hoffman Estates.

In all, Mrs. Photikarmbumrung taught at St. Hubert's for 10 years. She specialized in the primary grades of 1st, 2nd and 4th grade. This school year, she welcomed her second grade class in the fall, but within weeks her illness forced her to take a leave of absence.

"She was gentle and kind, and always smiling," said Linda DeLarco of Schaumburg, whose children had her. "She was very soft-spoken, but she connected with the children."

Colleagues say Mrs. Photikarmbumrung was a natural teacher, and she came by it naturally. Her mother, Linda Reckamp, is a longtime second grade teacher at St. Theresa Catholic School in Palatine.

"She always wanted to be a teacher," says her sister Claudia Byrd of Rolling Meadows. "She was very organized and creative, and very patient."

Byrd added that the family has been comforted by the outpouring of support from both school communities, St. Hubert's and St. Theresa's, as they deal with their loss.

"The parents' associations, teachers, and students - from both schools - have been wonderful," Byrd said. "The students have written very touching notes. It's been very comforting."

Mrs. Photikarmbumrung grew up attending St. Theresa's and spent her entire teaching career working at Catholic schools.

Upon earning her undergraduate degree from Illinois State University and her master's from Lewis University, she taught at St. Catherine Laboure in Glenview and St. Stephen Protomartyr in Des Plaines before starting at St. Hubert's.

Her funeral Mass and celebration of her life comes during Catholic Schools Week, when parishes across the country celebrate the impact their schools and teachers have on the lives of their students.

Monsignor Richard Zborowski, pastor of St. Theresa and the Rev. Andrzej Beltowski, his associate pastor, will concelebrate the funeral Mass.

Mrs. Photikarmbumrung is survived by her husband, Nate, and sons Tyler and Tommy. Family members have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Bright Start College Savings Program, P.O. Box 6498, Chicago, IL 60680.