Visitation, Funeral Set For Beloved Ridgeland Dist. 122 Board Member Raelin Trend

OAK LAWN, IL—The Ridgeland School Dist. 122 community is mourning the loss of popular school board member Raelin Jean Trend, who died unexpectedly from complications due to a stroke on Sept. 30. She was 33.

Dist. 122 Supt. Joe Matise called Trend the “quintessential board member.”

“Raelin came to every school event. She was very visible in all our schools,” Matise told Patch. “I had to send staff members home because they were so upset and call in substitute teachers.”

Trend was appointed to serve on the the Dist. 122 school board in 2021. She ran unopposed in the 2023 consolidated election. Trend had been serving as vice president of the board of education at the time of her death.

“Vice President Trend was a stalwart member of the Board of Education and the Harnew PTA,” D122 board president David Lis said in a statement. “She was fiercely devoted to ensuring that every student in the district had the opportunities, resources, and tools needed to succeed.”

Trend represented the face of the board of education through her volunteerism at Ridgeland’s elementary schools, Harnew, Kolb, Columbus Manor, Leib and Simmons Middle School. Throughout her tenure, she earned the respect of administrators, staff and teachers for her kindness and advocacy.

“Some people walk into a room, and you notice them. Raelin walked into a room and somehow made everything feel lighter,” board member Pat Pulver said. “She had a way of bringing warmth with her—not because she tried to, but because that’s just who she was.”

Matise said Trend’s commitment to the students and Oak Lawn community made the district a better place.

“We are grateful for her service and friendship, and we will honor it by continuing the work Raelin cared so deeply about,” the superintendent said.

Trend and her husband, Jeremy, lived in the Harnew Elementary School neighborhood, where they were raising their children, Addison, Lillian and Jaxon, all of whom attended Dist. 122 schools.

She was born born on Jan. 13, 1993 to James and Donna Thorpe. In addition to her husband, children and parents, Trend leaves two brothers, Braden and Kyle (John) Thorpe, along with grandparents, John and Barbara Carey, and was a fond aunt of Brenton and Miranda, according to her obituary.

Visitation is set for Tuesday, Oct. 6, with a funeral to follow at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Lawn Funeral Home, 7909 State Road, Burbank.