ANGOLA — Laura C. Szejka Zimmer passed away Thursday, July 14, in her childhood home surrounded by her family. She was 26 years old. Laura was born on July 28, 1989, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mike and Caryn Szejka, her loving and devoted parents. Laura was the feisty little sister of Brian Szejka and Katie (Szejka) Hurr. Although smaller and younger, Laura made up for her size with a gigantic personality. Laura's songs and wit, while garnering dinnertime admonitions, showcased her incredibly unique personality from a young age. Laura flourished throughout her school career at Buffalo Grove High School, scoring a perfect 36 on her ACT while also starring in show choir and remaining active in band, orchestra, softball, volleyball and cross-country. Laura's innate curiosity and intelligence made her a joy to have in class and would serve her throughout the rest of her life. At the University of Notre Dame, Laura majored in accountancy. She wrote music, sang, and beatboxed with Harmonia, an all female a cappella group. Laura loved football tailgates, creating homemade Halloween costumes, pretending to workout and eating hot dogs and pizza. Perhaps Laura's greatest accomplishment in college, however, was the development of a fiercely loyal group of friends who remain loving and close to this day. Laura's creativity, problem solving skills and no-nonsense attitude made her a force to be reckoned with as a Forensic Senior Associate Accountant at Deloitte. Three years after graduation, Laura reconnected with David Zimmer, a close college friend who would later become her devoted and loving husband. The two returned to South Bend where Laura worked as a Senior Consultant for Crowe Horwath while David pursued his passion in returning to medical school. In October of 2015, Laura was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of colon cancer. Laura fought cancer as she lived — with valiant grit and inspiring grace. She grew in her faith and gently, through her own example, encouraged those around her to grow in theirs. She and David married on Nov. 1, 2015 in a small but perfectly intimate wedding with just their immediate families. Over the following months, Laura and her husband experienced a once in a lifetime love. They made a home together, fought adversity, and experienced outpourings of love and generosity from all over the world; they prayed together often, cherished each moment together and experienced the purest form of love. Laura is survived by her husband, David I. Zimmer; parents, Michael and Caryn (nee Olofson) Szejka; and siblings, Brian and Stefanie (nee Coyne) Szejka, and Katie and Greg Hurr. Laura is the cherished daughter-in-law of Matthew and Susan Zimmer and the idolized sister-in-law of Donny (Crystal) Zimmer, Kellyn (Bobby) Powers and the late Riley Zimmer. Visitation will be Monday, July 18, 2016 from 3-8 p.m. at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street (Northwest Hwy./Rt 14 at Rand Road) Des Plaines and Tuesday, July 19, at St. Edna Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights from 9 a.m. until time of funeral mass at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. For further uneral information, people may contact 847-824-5155 or oehlerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, they are establishing a memorial fund in Laura's memory, the "A Little Bit of Laura" Fund. Donations will be used to perform random acts of kindness in Laura's memory. Those who knew Laura best will remember that Laura touched lives all over the world and left a little bit of herself wherever she went. She taught us that small thoughtful gestures are the heart of all good relationships, and this is the way in which she will be remembered. Donations can be made in the form of checks written to David Zimmer or Caryn Szejka, or can be directly deposited to Chase Bank, account #860873897. Checks may be sent to 2319 N. Burke Drive, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004. Laura asked that masses be said in her name and donations can be made accordingly.