Laura Elizabeth Heany

Laura Elizabeth Heany, age 40, of Machesney Park, Illinois passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. She was born on April 19, 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia to Robert & Carolyn Heany. When she was in 4th grade, Laura moved with her family to Carmel, Indiana. It was there that she welcomed her son Larry Kessling in 2004. They moved to Rockford, Illinois where Laura soon made many friends whom she loved like family. She welcomed her son Elijah Maggio in 2017. Laura owned her own businesses, breeding Golden Retriever puppies and running a successful daycare out of her home. She started the daycare in 2010, and she loved having a house full of kids to help learn and grow. Laura's daycare kids were more than students to her: they were her family. She loved each one of them like her own children, and even after they left her care, she would always drop anything for them. Her love for her friends, family and kids knew no bounds. Her heart was always in the right place, and everyone who knew her is better for having her in their life.

Laura was a lover of animals, owning at various times a bearded dragon, hamster, guinea pig, chinchilla, parakeets, cats, 2 tanks of fish, and many, many Golden Retrievers. She had quite a green thumb, cultivating houseplants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, you name it. Laura could nurse any plant back to health, often helping her friends keep their plants healthy and growing. She even began taking botany classes to help her learn enough to make that a business as well. Laura never stopped trying to improve herself and the people around her: always learning, always doing, always growing. She was a friend to all, often having people over, hanging out in the kitchen and spending time having intense discussions about topics like when milk needs to be refrigerated. Laura could always find a reason to laugh, and even in her most trying times, tried to do right by those she loved.

Laura will be greatly missed by her sons, Larry Kessling & Elijah Maggio; her mother Carolyn Heany; and her best friend Virginia Schwarz. Laura was preceded in death by her father Robert Heany.

A visitation will be held for Laura on Friday, August 2 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sunset Funeral Home (8800 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park, Illinois 61115).