Spirited girl loses cancer fight

 

An 11-year-old South Elgin girl whose battle against leukemia defied odds and won hearts across the Fox Valley has died.

Paige Stibgen passed away on Wednesday at her home in the Thornwood neighborhood from complications of the disease, which was diagnosed last fall.

She was an honor student at Haines Middle School in St. Charles. Residents staged various fundraisers on Paige's behalf, ranging from a basketball clinic sponsored by the South Elgin Storm basketball team to raffles at local businesses.

"I thought she was like a little Energizer Bunny," said Stacey Sutter, who first met Paige on Halloween while the girl was out trick-or-treating. "She just fought to the end."

Paige's mother, Joanna, was unavailable for comment Thursday, but wrote of her daughter's death on Paige's website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/paigestibgen.

"She told me the end was here this morning and we had three wonderful hours together," her mother wrote. "We had an hour alone together and then we had a party in her room. She was at total peace."

Passionate about life, Paige loved basketball and played violin in the school orchestra. She also enjoyed arts and crafts and her animals, Sammy, Annie, Ginger, Squirt and many, many fish, according to her obituary.

Paige also is survived by a brother, Carter, and her father, James.

Services are set for 2 p.m. Monday at Christ Community Church, 37W100 Bolcum Road, St. Charles. Mourners are asked to wear blue in Paige's honor. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Norris Funeral Home, 100 S. Third St., St. Charles.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made online to Curesearch.org, research for all childhood cancers; the Paige Stibgen Medical Fund, LaSalle Bank, 800 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173; or the Pals for Paige, American Eagle Bank, 556 Randall Road, South Elgin, IL 60177.