Those that knew Chelsea Lloyd say she’ll leave a void in the lives of her students, colleagues and family.

Lloyd, a physical education teacher at Tefft Middle School and soccer coach at nearby Streamwood High School, died suddenly Sept. 6 at the age of 29 in her Hoffman Estates home.

Her death came as a surprise not only to the Lloyd family, but to her family at School District U-46, said Tefft Principal Lavonne Smiley.

An autopsy was completed, but a cause of death is still pending, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Teaching was in Lloyd’s blood — her parents and brother are also teachers.

“She had a big, open heart and was always willing to help everyone,” said her mother, Sherry Lloyd. “She adored her students. She had a great mixture of discipline with them, but yet fun.”

Besides teaching, Lloyd also loved soccer, and served as the head varsity girls soccer coach, and also coached the junior varsity boys team.

When Lloyd was deciding on a career, her father suggested she go into physical education so she could continue to enjoy her talent as a soccer player. After graduating from Crystal Lake South High School in 2000, Lloyd played soccer during her four years at Aurora University.

The Lloyd family started the Chelsea Lloyd Women’s Soccer Fund at Aurora University. Sherry Lloyd said she hopes the fund will help young women get an education while playing soccer at the college, where Lloyd’s father is a professor.

“We can keep her legacy going,” Sherry Lloyd said.

Lloyd’s teaching style allowed her to reach kids academically, but also on social and emotional levels, Smiley said. “In middle school, that’s so important.”

“Chelsea had very high expectations of herself as a professional,” she said. “She conveyed those expectations to her students as well. She did that effortlessly. As a principal, you’re always looking for someone who can do that.”

“She made students feel special because she would zero in on those individual nuances students bring to class every day,” Smiley added.

Lloyd came to the school last year after teaching at Ellis Middle School in Elgin, where she had taught since graduating from college. She made the move to be closer to her coaching job at the high school, said Ellis Principal Perry Hayes.

“She brought that bubbly personality and commitment to education you don’t really see in a first-year teacher,” Ellis said.

When students at Tefft learned of Lloyd’s death this week, they were devastated, Smiley said, and wanted to turn their grief into action.

One student painted a portrait of Lloyd that is now displayed in the school, and about 100 students wrote letters to Lloyd, describing what she meant to them. Smiley plans to give those letters to Lloyd’s family.

Patrick Ryan, athletic director at Streamwood High School, said he is working on planning a memorial soccer game this season. Outside his office, students have created a makeshift memorial to honor Lloyd, writing messages to her.

“They described her as outstanding, respectful and funny,” Ryan said. “We’re going to miss her around here.”

Services are from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora. The funeral is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Chelsea Lloyd Women’s Soccer Fund, c/o Aurora University, 347 S. Gladstone Ave. Aurora, IL. 60506.