Lake Zurich teacher succumbs to cancer

Diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer this summer, Erika K. Meyer didn't want her illness to interfere with her job as a first-grade teacher at Sarah Adams Elementary School in Lake Zurich.

She continued teaching as she sought treatment for the disease, and officials said she didn't tell her students she was ill - although their parents knew.

Meyer was even in school last week despite not feeling well, Lake Zurich Unit District 95 Superintendent Mike Egan said.

"She wanted to be there for the Halloween celebration in her classroom," Egan said.

Meyer, 29, of Arlington Heights, died Sunday at Loyola University Health System in Maywood. She suffered cardiac arrest prompted by the cancer, her husband, Andrew, said.

Students in all of the school's classrooms were told about Meyer's death Monday. In response, they worked on special projects, such as drawing pictures or making cards, officials said.

Counselors were at the school Monday and Tuesday to help students and teachers cope with their grief.

"It was a difficult situation," Egan said. "They are hurting from their loss."

Born in Overland Park, Kan., Meyer moved to Buffalo Grove as a baby. She graduated from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire in 1998.

During her time at Stevenson, Meyer - then known as Erika White - was a member of the student council and helped lead the freshman mentor program, school spokesman Jim Conrey said.

She also was in the Future Educators of America club, was a member of the girls golf team and was a pool leader who helped teach students to swim.

After Stevenson, Meyer attended Indiana University and graduated in 2002.

She taught at Adams for eight years, always in the first grade, Principal Claudia Mall said.

"I think first grade was her calling and her passion," Mall said. "She was a fabulous teacher."

Meyer began blogging about her life, her cancer and the treatments in June after her diagnosis. The blog was a way for Erika to inform people about her progress fighting the disease, her husband said.

"It was the first thing she did when she came home from work every day," he said. "That was her way of coping."

In a blog entry written Sunday after his wife died, Andrew Meyer described Erika as "the most beautiful and charismatic person I have ever known."

Visitation is set for 4 to 9 p.m. today at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road. A memorial service is 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 30 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. Interment will be private.

In addition to her husband, Meyer is survived by her parents and her brother.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Erika Meyer Memorial Fund, Sarah Adams PTO of School District 95, 555 Old Mille Grove Road, Lake Zurich, Ill., 60047.

Memorial also may be sent to the Buddy Foundation, P.O. Box 334, Arlington Heights, Ill., 60005.