Colleen Marie Gleason

Colleen Marie Gleason, age 27, of Lakewood, Illinois transcended her physical form at her home on July 27, 2020. She was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois on October 13, 1992. She is survived by her parents, Michael & Christine (Ifkovits) Gleason, her two brothers, Michael & Blake Gleason, her grandmother, Karel Titone, and her beloved dog, Pippa. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Jack & Clare Gleason, Vincent Titone, and Fred & Jennell Ifkovits, as well as her aunts, Jennifer (Ifkovits) Joniak & namesake Colleen Marie Ifkovits. Colleen lived her life to the fullest after receiving a heart transplant at the age of 3 and a second heart transplant at the age of 20. She held the deepest gratitude for life and passionately advocated for organ donation. In her youth, Colleen attended Crystal Lake Central High School while cheerleading, playing tennis, and being a member of the National Honor Society. She furthered her education at Illinois Wesleyan University as a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, and later graduated from North Central College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. As a life long learner, Colleen also had plans to earn her MBA from University of Illinois in the coming fall. Colleen excelled in her role as corporate project coordinator at G2 where she was highly regarded and adored. In her free time, Colleen dedicated her life to service by being a part of countless charities and organizations including Junior League of Chicago, Red Shoe Society Chicago, Home Sweet Home Ministries homeless shelter, and Children’s Research Fund as well as Move for Kids for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She loved nothing more than to share good conversation and banter with her loved ones over her sensational home cooking. Although her life was short, Colleen was an avid world traveler with stamps on her passport from Italy, Spain, and Thailand. She will be dearly remembered as a radiant, kind, and fearless soul- fearless enough to skydive multiple times! Undeterred by her own struggles, it was imperative to Colleen to be a voice for the voiceless and she was relentless in her mission to spread positivity. She will continue to serve as an inspiration and guiding source of love & light to all who had the honor of knowing her. A celebration of Colleen's truly extraordinary life will now be held on Sunday, June 27, 2021 from 10:30 AM at The Seville in Streamwood, IL.  All are invited.  See www.colleencares.org to RSVP and to learn about Colleen's new charity benefiting her worthwhile causes. On Colleen's behalf, we ask that everyone considers registering to become an organ donor. The selfless gift of organ donation allowed Colleen to leave her mark on the world.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by clicking on Tribute Wall.

Arrangements are under the care of Willow Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Algonquin.

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