Memorial service set for Wheaton native who helped sick kids in Africa

A memorial service has been set for 25-year-old former Wheaton resident Meghan Liddy, who died of complications from malaria after spending the past five years working on behalf of sick children in Africa.

Visitation for Liddy, a 2012 graduate of Wheaton Warrenville South High School, will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Wheaton Bible Church Chapel, 27W500 North Ave., West Chicago. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m.

Liddy first visited Africa on a church mission to Uganda when she was 18. She moved there permanently five years ago and ended up in Ghana where she co-founded an organization to support children with complex medical needs and disabilities.

For the last four years, Liddy fostered 11-year-old Rhoda and 8-year-old Priscilla, biological sisters whom she was in the process of adopting, family members said. She also spent several months caring for 1-year-old Kofi, who died Oct. 30.

After she recently contracted malaria, Liddy's infection became worse than normal and began attacking her organs. She died Nov. 2 surrounded by friends and co-workers in Ghana.

A GoFundMe page was created to help bring Liddy's remains to Nebraska where she will be buried in a family plot. It has raised nearly $34,000 in nine days.

Liddy is survived by her parents, Maryann and David Liddy; her brother, Robert; grandparents Mike and Lori Hume; grandmother Lois; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the GoFundMe page.

• Daily Herald staff writer Jake Griffin contributed to this report.