Visitation Information

Erin Colleen O'Donnell

Passed away on November 17, 2022

Erin Colleen O’Donnell (nee Gomez), passed away peacefully at home on the evening of November 17, 2022 with the presence of family surrounding her.

Erin was born on October 22, 1984 at 8:28 PM to parents Martin C. and Sarah A. Gomez in Chicago, Illinois. She was raised on the south east side with her brother Matthew C.

Erin attended Seton Academy where she met life long best friend Laura Dunneback (Mogle). Erin was active in numerous sporting and academic pursuits, and was consistently at the top of her class, and it was in her Sophomore year that she found the love of her life and husband, John K. Jr.

After graduation in 2003, Erin attended Millikin University, where she first dipped her toes into business, before realizing she wanted to pursue her true passion of Education. Erin graduated from Millikin in 2007 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught her first year at Pershing Early Learning Center in Decatur, IL before following her heart and relocating to Wabasha, MN in 2009 to be with John.

Minnesota would be the state that brought Erin the most joy as all four of her children, Hayley Lynn (2012), Declan Kane (2015), Keagan Joseph (2017) and Isabelle Claire (2019) would be born there. When Erin arrived in MN she spent a year with the Head-Start Program in Red Wing, MN before finding her forever teaching home with the Wabasha-Kellogg School district where she spent eight years teaching pre-school. It was here that she dug her deepest roots, not only with her students, but with her fellow WK girls in the elementary wing. While all these wonderful women remained close with Erin, none was more important to her than her best friend Andrea Day. While in MN, Erin obtained her masters in Early Childhood Education from Graceland University.

In 2018, Erin and family relocated to Lloydminster, Alberta as she supported John in chasing his dreams of his career. This would be the start of her sabbatical, allowing her to take time to raise her young children. Unfortunately it was in October 2018 when Erin was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Erin would not let this diagnosis define her, nor would she allow the date of diagnosis be defined by it, as she also learned she was pregnant with Isabelle the same day.

Chris, Andrea, Zoey, and Zac Day opened their home and hearts to Erin and family to allow Erin and the children to relocate back to Minnesota to pursue world class treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN while John maintained his role in Canada working both in Canada and Minnesota during her early days of treatment. At Mayo, Erin formed an incredible bond with her primary oncologist, Dr. Roberto Leon Ferre, as well as his wonderful team who would fight alongside her for the duration of this battle. After 9 months, Erin completed initial treatment and returned with family back to Canada in June 2019.

Throughout her battle, she continued to push her family to be the best it could be and continued to build an incredible network of friends in Lloydminster, Alberta until the family moved to Lafayette, Indiana in June 2020, where that network continued to grow. Erin’s favorite part of Indiana was the ability to watch her kids thrive. Her favorite places were gyms and ballfields where she could watch the kids compete.

In August 2022, Erin and family made their most recent move to York, PA, which her stay was far to short.

Despite multiple surgeries, quarterly PET scans, countless chemotherapy sessions, and the relentless push of the disease, Erin never lost herself. She was forever a loving daughter and sister, affectionate wife, wonderful mother and compassionate friend to all who entered her world.

While all who have had the pleasure to know her are worse off without her, we can rest with the knowledge that she is now at peace and reunited with her mother Sarah in Heaven.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at 6:00 p.m. with Fr. Carl Markelz O.Carm officiating at Elmwood Chapel 11200 S. Ewing Ave. Chicago IL., to allow family and friends to gather and not to mourn her loss but celebrate her life and memory. Interment private.www.elmwoodchapel.com 773-731-2749