Update of preschool teacher from Galesburg dies

Makes me think deeper about people "off" their meds during a pandemic.

'First-class all the way'

Redington remembered by community she touched

Monday, April 24, 2006

By TAMMY BOULD

The Register-Mail

The 44-year-old Galesburg woman died at 7:12 a.m. Sunday in OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria from bacterial meningitis.

Her husband, Tim Redington, posted the news at 8:14 a.m. Sunday on a Web page the family set up to keep friends and family informed about her condition.

"I decided at the start of Sheila's illness to be open and share everything we knew because I knew how much Sheila means to so many people," he wrote. "I wish I could tell everybody how much all the support has meant to my family. I don't know how else to tell you but at 7:12 I just lost my love, my life and best friend."

KENT KRIEGSHAUSER/The Register-Mail Chantel Williams wipes away tears while holding on to her son, Tommy, 4, during a flag lowering ceremony at Costa Catholic School this morning. Standing behind them are Tim Redington's parents. Tommy was a pupil in Sheila Reington's class.

"I have been around town today," wrote Tom Simkins on Sunday evening. "There is nowhere free of the sadness of Sheila's passing."

Many people who never met Redington have been compelled to write to the family and offer their condolences, after being inspired by her positive influence on others and saddened by the tragedy of her illness and sudden death.

"I can't help but feel like I knew her in some small way, just by the loving words spoken of her," one local resident wrote Sunday afternoon.

Redington was a preschool teacher at Costa Catholic School and the head cheerleading coach at Galesburg High School. She began experiencing flu-like symptoms early last week and was taken by helicopter to OSF St. Francis Medical Center on Wednesday.

"A couple days into it, we thought she was doing better," Tim Redington said Saturday evening. "It's like slamming into a brick wall."

KENT KRIEGSHAUSER/The Register-Mail A sympathy balloon and card are attached to the door of Redigton’s preschool classroom this morning.

Tim Redington said the family knew for about an hour before her passing Sunday morning that she was not going to make it.

"My heart is very heavy," Costa Catholic School Principal Carolyn Koos said this morning.

Costa lowered the school's flag to half-staff this morning and had a prayer service open to the community. Koos said two grief counselors will be at the preschool today, and that the entire school will likely be closed the day of the funeral. She said community members are welcome to attend the 7:30 a.m. rosary service Friday at the school.

Costa officials said Monday that people were offering condolences at the school by leaving flowers at the door to the preschool.

The school is taking donations for the Sheila Redington Preschool Scholarship. Donations may be made by calling the school at 344-3155. F and M Bank is collecting funds to help the Redington family with medical expenses.

Grief counselors were on hand for students and staff at Galesburg High School today, according to high school principal Diane Hutchins. They will be available Tuesday and Wednesday, too.

Galesburg District 205 superintendent Gene Denisar said in a statement released this morning that the staff and student body are deeply saddened by Redington's death and wish to express their condolences and support to the entire Redington family.

Redington also taught cheerleading at Carl Sandburg College's Kids on Campus. This would have been her fourth year.

CSC celebrated its 40th anniversary with an open house Sunday. Before CSC President Tom Schmidt opened the event, he asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Redington.

"It is hard to imagine the lives that were touched directly by her, as well as indirectly," Schmidt said. "I chose to champion and cherish the experience we've had in this community and especially draw attention to the grace with which the rest of her family has dealt with what is truly a tragedy. ... Thank you for being here and conveying our best thoughts and prayers to that family."

Krissa Creech, the Kids on Campus coordinator had known Redington for 16 years. She said Redington was "fantastic to work with" and the children "just dearly loved her."

Creech's daughter is a GHS cheerleader and she said Redington taught her daughter more than just how to cheer.

"There are no words to describe what kind of person she was," Creech said. "Warm, tender and just first-class all the way."

Funeral arrangements for Redington were pending at press time.