Elizabeth "Beth" A. Rydberg

Elizabeth A. "Beth" Rydberg, 55, of Rockford passed away Sunday, December 1, 2013 in her home surrounded by her family. Born October 16, 1958, in Avon, IL the daughter of Charles Kenneth and Marilyn Ann (Walker) Alden. She received her BFA in Art Education from the University of Illinois and her Masters in Education from Saint Xavier. While studying at U of I, she met Kirk Rydberg and they married on July 17, 1982 in Henry, Illinois. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. Beth had a passion for teaching and the Arts, with a special gift for inspiring children to learn and to love the Arts during her 33 years as a teacher. She was a member of the Golden Apple Foundation and was a 2003 recipient of the Golden Apple Award. She was also a proud member and former board member of the Rockford Education Association and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Beth was a lifelong Illini and St. Louis Cardinal fan.

Beth is lovingly survived by her husband, Kirk; daughters, Erin Rydberg of Hong Kong and Hayley Rydberg of Rockford; father, Kenny Alden of Hennepin; brother, Pat (Deby) Alden of Peoria Heights; sisters, Julia Alden of Singapore, Connie (David) Bogdan of East Grand Rapids, MI and Jane Alden of Lakewood, CA, mother-in-law, Barbara Rydberg, brothers-in-law Kenneth (Cheryl) Rydberg and Kevin (Carol) Rydberg, sister-in-law, Kathy (Richard) Roetter, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, and special friends Charity, Margaret, and Nancy, and the "Art Girls" Jeannie, Kathie, Kathy, Linda, LuAnn, and Sarah. Predeceased by her mother, Marilyn. The family would like to express its extreme gratitude to Drs. Ironside and Schulz, and the wonderful nurses of Swedish American Hospital's ICU.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established for Beth's daughters, Erin and Hayley. To express online condolences, please visit: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.