Laura Anne Kolarik

Laura was born on August 5, 1983, in Winfield, Illinois, to Alan and Sandra Kolarik. She grew up in Naperville and graduated from Neuqua Valley High School and later made her home in Joliet after graduating from Arizona State University.

Laura will be remembered for her kind heart, generosity, creativity, and the love she so freely gave to others. She was a truly giving person who was always thinking of others and looking for ways to make the world a better place. Laura had a big heart and found joy in making other people feel loved and cared for. She especially loved giving gifts and often put thought and meaning into finding something special for the people she loved.

Laura was artistic and creative, with a love for drawing and expressing herself through art. She also found great joy in caring for her plants, giving them the same patience, attention, and love that she gave so generously to the people in her life. Laura had a special love for animals and found joy in the simple and unique things that made her smile. She loved narwhals and pickles, two of the many little things that made Laura wonderfully and unmistakably herself.

She enjoyed watching Chicago sports, especially the White Sox and Bears, and going to concerts. But more than anything, Laura treasured her family and friends. She was a loving daughter, sister, and aunt, and was affectionately known as the fun auntie, as she was a big kid herself. Her kindness, humor, generosity, and ability to make others feel cared for will be deeply missed.

Laura is survived by her mother, Sandra Kolarik; her sister, Melissa (Reymar) Robles; her brother, David (Mandie) Kolarik; and her sister, Amy Kolarik. She was a beloved aunt to Alexandra, Levi, and Hope.

She was preceded in death by her father, Alan Kolarik, and her grandmother, Evelyn Simak.

Laura leaves behind a legacy of kindness and love. She spent her life thinking of others, giving generously, and trying to make the world a little better simply by being in it. Her loving heart will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with a small service at 1:00 pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Forest Park, Illinois. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. In honor of Laura’s love of Chicago sports, we encourage you to wear your favorite White Sox, Bears, or Blackhawks attire.