St. Charles woman remembered for unwavering dedication

Amy Backer had a farewell worthy of a queen or national hero.

And that's exactly what she was to the hundreds of mourners who lined up at Yurs Funeral Home last Friday night for hours to say goodbye to a woman who touched many lives in the St. Charles school community.

Amy Backer, 48, an active parent in various PTO and music organizations and the wife of Davis Elementary School Principal Michael Backer, died Aug. 17 after she could not recover from a sudden respiratory problem in the middle of night.

It marked the second tragedy within a month for Davis Elementary, losing one of its most avid supporters and helpers a few weeks after learning of the tragic death of second-grade teacher Connie Johnson from a motorcycle accident while visiting family in Kentucky.

"Anyone in the community who knew her and were part of that seven-hour wake knows that she was just an amazing wife, mother and sister," Backer said of his wife of 24 years. "She had a zest and love of life, and the ability to nurture relationships with everyone."

Many of those relationships came while being active in all facets of school fundraising and event planning throughout the district, particularly at Davis Elementary, as well as Haines Elementary, where three of her four children attended.

Haines Principal Charles Kyle said that Amy Backer was not hard to recognize or get to know.

"She was always everywhere when it came to the schools," said Kyle, who has known the Backer family for 10 years. "She was an incredible, selfless person who dedicated herself to making sure the schools were better."

Kyle said that band instructors throughout the district benefited from her work in organizing fundraisers.

"Amy gave her heart to everything, and she was a big asset to the music programs," Kyle said.

St. Charles School District 303 spokesman Jim Blaney called Amy Backer "a bundle of energy."

"Amy was one of the most dynamic people I have ever met," Blaney said. "When she got involved in something, she got very involved."

Backer, who has been principal at Davis for six years, said his family found strength and support from the numerous stories they heard during Amy's services.

"When people had a tough time, she always had their back, offering smiles and encouragement," Backer said. "Everyone felt that way about her, and we were really touched by everyone who contacted us.

"The contributions she made to her own family, she made to others as well with a ripple effect that just made an incredible impact in the community."

Backer is on personal leave to spend time with his family and get his daughter Kylee and three sons - Michael, Derek and Brian - situated for their new school years, but said he expects to return to Davis Elementary soon.

"The Davis school community is incredibly strong, with Connie Johnson's tragic death happening just prior to this (Amy's passing)," Backer said. "They have rallied together for Connie and myself, and it is a wonderful school. I feel very strongly that the students will get off to a wonderful start."

The sudden loss of his wife has been made more difficult for Backer because he is not certain what led to her death.

"We are waiting to learn more about what happened," he said. "It was a sudden situation, and my sons revived her with CPR, which doctors said saved her to the point of allowing us to get her to the emergency room."

Michael and Amy Backer met at Eastern Illinois University in 1980 and were married in 1986 in Oak Lawn.

"It was love at first sight for me, but I'm not sure if it was for her," Backer fondly recalled.

"One thing I said at the memorial service was that some people go through life never having met someone like Amy. I am really thankful for the 30 years I had with her."