Ilene Steiner Illovsky
Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, and Friend
November 6, 1958 - June 11, 2025
Ilene Steiner Illovsky, 66, of Moraga, California, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2025, after a brave three-year battle with cancer. She met this journey with characteristic grace, resilience, and a deep love for her family. Even in the most difficult moments, Ilene continued to nurture and support those around her-especially her beloved grandchildren.
Born in 1958 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ilene lived a full and meaningful life grounded in love, integrity, and connection. At the center of her world was her extraordinary 40+ year marriage to her devoted husband, Eugene. Their partnership was a beautiful testament to enduring love and mutual respect, and remained her greatest joy and strength throughout her life.
Ilene took great pride in raising her two daughters, both independent and accomplished women who were the source of her constant pride. She poured her heart into her family, and her role as grandmother brought her immense happiness and purpose in recent years.
Ilene was known for her warmth, wisdom, and ability to make others feel truly seen and valued. Her home was a place of comfort and welcome, filled with the smell of home-cooked meals and the sound of heartfelt conversation. Whether offering guidance or listening with compassion, Ilene touched the lives of all who knew her.
In her earlier years, Ilene studied at Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard Business School. Her intellect, attention to detail, and positive attitude led her to a global career that took her to Norway, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles before settling in the San Francisco Bay Area and turning her focus toward raising her family.
She is survived by her husband Eugene, her daughters Lauren (Grant Salisbury) and Jayne, her grandchildren Ford and Winter Salisbury, her beloved mother Rochelle Steiner, and her brother Craig Steiner (Michelle). She also leaves behind many extended family members and close friends-connections that spanned decades and brought her a lifetime of support, laughter, and joy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ilene's memory to Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, an organization working on advancing therapies for the rare bile duct cancer she so stubbornly fought. Ilene will be profoundly missed, but her love, strength, and spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those she touched.