Sydney Deann Ives

Sydney Deann Ives, 11 years old, Rockford, has won her battle with cancer and is now free in heaven. She died peacefully in her home on Saturday, November 7, 2009 surrounded by her loving family and friends. Born August 5, 1998 in Rockford, daughter of Dean G. and Tasha D. Brown Ives. She attended pre-school and kindergarten in Pecatonica and had been a student at Rolling Green Elementary School in Rockford for 5 years. She was also an honorary student and honorary Homecoming Queen at Christian Life Center Schools and has received much support from all of these organizations. She was thrilled to have also been made an honorary member of the Rockford Ice Hogs. She was affiliated with both Lincolnwood Baptist Church and Rockford First. She attended Rockford First and called her Paw Paws church, Lincolnwood Baptist her home. Sydney and her family received unequaled support from both church families and the entire Rockford community. Their support base spans the world in many different forms. There is a U.S. Army tank in Afghanistan that has a teal bow on it with "Sydney Is Our Hero" written on it. The family recently heard from a former Top Gun hero stating that Sydney was a "true hero and warrior" . Sydney was treated with great love throughout her journey at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, where she made many friends, including those who are already in heaven. She was very creative and loved to sing, draw and paint. Sydney will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and her gorgeous eyes that even captured the hearts of the Jonas Brothers. She had a love and faith in God that was undeniable. Survivors include her parents, Dean and Tasha; her younger "big brother" , Carson; maternal grandparents, Greg and Carol Ives; maternal grandparents, Herman and Annita Brown; paternal great-grandmother, Mary Hicks; aunts and uncles, Tina (Frank) Drummer, Tabitha (Dan) Pitney, Diane (Pete) Drake, Debra (Todd) Fleury, Daniel (Amber) Ives and many loving cousins who were more like her brothers and sisters. She was also survived by a large, extended network of family and friends whose lives will be forever changed by their relationships with Sydney. Predeceased by her maternal great-grandparents, Henry and Pauline Brown and Lawrence and Audrey McQuay; paternal great-grandparents, Homer and Elizabeth Ives and Roy Hicks; great aunts, Juanita McFaddin and Annie Hicks as well as several of her loving friends from St. Jude. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 12, 2009 in the sanctuary of Rockford First with her Paw Paw, Rev. Herman Brown, pastor of Lincolnwood Baptist Church officiating. Burial in Willwood Burial Park. Visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the sanctuary of the church and from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. For those that wish to send flowers, please consider using the kind people at Cherry Blossom Florist, who have done so much for the Ives family during this time. The family has been assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.fitzgeraldfh.com. We love you more, Sydney, and LIP! (Live In Peace)