Anu L. Parts

Anu Liisi Parts, or Lisa Parts as she preferred, was born in occupied Germany in 1946 in Holzminden to August and Hilja Parts, refugees from Estonia, escaping the wrath of the Russians.  In 1949 their little family arrived in America under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. With sponsorship from a Lutheran refugee group, they began their new life working on a dairy farm in Virginia. Manufacturing jobs were plentiful in the Chicago area and so they settled in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Lisa's first love was music and ballet. She was a regular Lyric Opera attendee. Her high school years as a thespian and piano player laid the groundwork for a life full of music. At Northern Illinois University she minored in music. This grew to a short career as a radio host: "Listen with Lisa".

She put her organizational skills as a secretary to good use in many departments at Northern Illinois University, culminating in being an administrative assistant to various deans. She served the university with great loyalty and dedication.

Lisa loved feeding and watching birds and chipmunks out her back door. She was grateful to God for His creatures. Lisa was an avid reader and a onetime Trekkie and Twilight Zone fan. She read widely across genres and kept up her Estonian language with her mother and Estonian newspapers.

She had a very generous soul. Kindness was practiced every day, toward everyone and every creature.

She is survived by her sisters Leili Parts and Linda Remus, and dear friend Loretta Horn. She is further survived by her niece Briana Tobin and her children, and also her cousin Anu Samarüütel. Her nephew Sean Tobin preceded her in death as well as her parents.

Internment will be private. Memorials in Lisa's memory may be made to https://tailshumanesociety.networkforgood.com/projects/176755-donate-today or https://www.oakenacres.org/donate

Arrangements were entrusted to: Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815)758-3841.