Shea Anderluh

Shea Leslie Anderluh, 18, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, died in the early hours of July 25, 2012 after a four-year battle with cancer. The middle of three girls, she was a creative, empathetic peacemaker, loved and admired by many friends for her epic sense of humor, musical and artistic talent, and gaming skills. Though her life ended too soon, it was filled with experiences and memories. She loved sports and enjoyed soccer, basketball, horseback riding and skiing. She loved the water and spent many happy hours in her grandparents’ pool and on the waters of Birch Lake in Michigan, boating, tubing and skiing near her much-loved lake house. She vacationed in California, Mexico, Florida, Vancouver, Wyoming, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii — her last vacation, inspired by a similar trip depicted in one of her favorite shows, “Modern Family.” And she visited the happiest place in the world, Walt Disney World, several times, ever eager to experience her favorite rides, the “Rock & Roll Roller Coaster” and the “Tower of Terror.” In spite of her illness, she played clarinet in the John Hersey High School Marching Band and was named Most Improved Freshman. She joined the Hersey badminton team, the school newspaper, and attended national journalism conferences in St. Louis and Anaheim, receiving an “Excellent” rating in competition. She followed Chicago sports teams and was a passionate Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks fan. She loved animals, especially her golden retriever, Sam, who died just weeks before she passed so that he could meet her on the other side. Her last wish, a golden retriever puppy she named Bailey, was her last gift to us, her family, providing comfort during dark times following her loss. She is survived by her loving parents, John and Elizabeth; her sisters, Megan and Jamie; her grandparents, John and Patricia Anderluh and Janet (the late Joseph) Schroeder; aunts Linda (Greg) Henning and Deborah (Andy Furillo) Anderluh; uncles Brian (Winnie) Anderluh and Brad Schroeder; several cousins; and best friend, Molly McMahon. She is deeply missed and forever thought of whenever we see ducks, hear the song “Blackbird,” play “Rock Band” on PS3 or watch “The Lord of the Rings” movies. She is buried, along with the ashes of her beloved dog Sam, at Windridge Memorial Park and Nature Sanctuary in Cary, Illinois. The world is a lesser place without her.