Jennifer Ilgauskas, wife of Cleveland Cavaliers legend Zydrunas Ilgauskas, dies at 50

Jennifer Ilgauskas, wife of former Cavaliers star Zydrunas Ilgauskas, passed away at the age of 50, according the website of Zeis-McGreevey Funeral Homes and Berry-McGreevey-Martens Funeral Homes.

Jennifer Ilgauskas, nee Shafer, was a mother of two sons, Deividas and Povilas, with the former Cavs center. Zydrunas Ilgauskas was drafted in 1996 and played through 2009-10. His No. 11 jersey was retired in 2014.

Jennifer Ilgauskas owned several Northeast Ohio businesses, including Rebound Physical Therapy, North Olmsted Urgent Care, Lakewood Urgent Care, and Darbo, a medical billing company. She was also an avid supporter of many charitable organizations.

Her obituary on the website said, “Many individuals were touched by her acts of kindness, but few knew the far reaching extent of her charitable work.

“Jennifer's approach to her professional life was visionary and selfless, executed with a servant heart.”

Wednesday afternoon, the Cleveland Cavaliers shared a video post on Instagram where Koby Altman, President of Basketball Operations for the team, expressed his condolences on behalf of the organization.

"We wanted to acknowledge and give a heartfelt condolence to the Ilgauskas family (on Jennifer's passing)," Altman said. "... Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ilgauskas family, his two boys and it's obviously a really, really sad time for that family so we wish them the best."

A funeral Mass open to the public will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, 17514 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged in her memory to Catholic Charities, 1404 E. 9th St., 8th Floor, Cleveland OH 44114 https://www.catholiccommunity.org/ways-to-give/donate/tribute or Care Alliance 1530 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114 https://www.carealliance.org/donations-gifts/ways-to-give/

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jennifer Ilgauskas, wife of former Cavaliers center dies