Batavia school mourns death of first-grader

Schoolmates Monday mourned the death of 7-year-old Jeffrey Deegan Nekolny, a student at Louise White Elementary School in Batavia.

Jeffrey, a first-grader, died Saturday after collapsing at his home in Aurora.

Students were informed of his death Monday. School district counselors and a grief team from Conley Outreach Services were brought in to answer students' questions and provide ways for students to express their feelings.

Jeffrey's death was unexpected, Superintendent Jack Barshinger said. He said physicians who treated the boy at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora told the school district Jeffrey did not die of anything contagious.

An autopsy was performed Monday, according to Barshinger. However, the Kane County Coroner's Office refused to confirm whether it did an autopsy, saying it could not release information because Jeffrey was a minor.

Jeffrey is survived by his mother and father, Jennifer and Jon; younger siblings Jackson and Jillian; and grandparents John and Joanne Nekolny and Sandra Kulekowskis. He was preceded in death by grandfather Tom Kulekowskis.

Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. May 7 at Adolf Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrook. Private inurnment will take place in Delavan, Wis.

The family has established a fund in Jeffrey's memory, with proceeds to be donated to the school. Donations may be sent to Harris Bank, 2853 Kirk Road, Aurora.

It is the second time in recent years Louise White students have dealt with the unexpected death of a schoolmate. In July 2007, 10-year-old Luke Laudolff drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan.