Phoebe "Penny" Jenny Kurzrock

Phoebe “Penny” Jenny Kurzrock, 86, Rockford, passed away peacefully Friday, April 2, 2021, in her home.
A soprano vocalist, Phoebe studied opera and choral music. She ministered in music as choir director, developed and performed musical community programs, wrote music, was a vocal instructor and piano teacher in Buffalo, New York, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Rockford. She also taught music for public school districts in the referenced cities and was active in her local church and various philanthropic and social organizations.
She was born Jan. 21, 1935, in Rockford, the daughter of Bernard and Julia (Johnson) Varvayn. Phoebe attended Rockford East and graduated from West High School in 1953. She attended Rockford College and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study music education but left in 1956 before graduating to move to Buffalo, New York with her husband. She completed her education in 1975 earning a bachelor of Music degree in music education. Penny married Dr. John “Jack” Kurzrock in Rockford on June 24, 1956. She was a long-time member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Centennial United Methodist and First Presbyterian churches (where she served as ministers of music) and Temple Baptist Church.
Survived by her daughter, Victoria A. Albanese of Highland Park; her granddaughter, Julia M. Albanese; her sister, Ingrid H. Peters; her nieces Christina Peters and Karla Dowd; her nephews, Keith, Craig, and Chris Kurzrock; several great-nieces and great-nephews; her cousin, Maurey Anderson, 97, and many other cousins once removed and second cousins. Predeceased by her husband, Jack, her parents, her son, Ronald Paul, her infant son, John Bernard, and her cousins, Richard T. and Donna Anderson, Roger and Marion L. Olson, Donald and Kathryn Mathison, Roy and Beatrice Challberg.
A visitation will be held from 3-4 p.m. Monday, April 12, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., followed by a Memorial Service at 5 p.m. in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St., Rev. Scott Stolberg officiating. Services will be zoomed with meeting ID 821 9222 4277 and passcode 123. Face masks are required and social distancing rules will be followed at both locations. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. in Scandinavian Cemetery on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Memorials may be made to Rock River Pantry, 421 S. Rockton Av Rockford, IL 61102, or Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (family support services), 7001 E. Touhy Av. Suite 50, Des Plaines, Il 60018, or ELCA Church Wide Ministries, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.