Vickie Irene Arnolde

Vickie Irene (Schilling) Arnolde, 64, passed away in her Wonder Lake home December 27, 2020, as a result of a house fire.

She was a New Year’s Eve Baby, born in Chicago and raised in LITH. She is preceded in death by her mother, Theresa Schilling; father, Leonard Schilling; sister, Suzanne Schilling and survived by her elder brother, Terry Schilling.

Vickie was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her daughter, Mollie (Shawn) and their daughter Elaine; and her son Derek (Joanne) and their son Max.

She had many friends and loved ones throughout her life and quite a few she considered to be family. There are too many to name, but if you considered her a friend, you most certainly had a cherished place in her heart.

Vickie focused her youth on being a mother, often supporting and driving her children around to any activity they enjoyed - Scouts, Karate, Swimming, Dance, Band, Art Classes. She gave all she could to her children, encouraging them to pursue their passions. As her children grew, she enjoyed her brief time as an early childhood educator. She was a home chef, who over time perfected many recipes, always from scratch. Some favorites include Parmesan crusted tilapia, key lime pie, cream puffs, homemade marinara. Major holidays were a time when she often insisted on dressing your best and celebrated with a formal dinner- cooked and baked from scratch, with silver and on china, where without fail the broccoli was left in the microwave.

She appreciated nature and took pride in her garden. She most certainly had her hands in dirt every day the weather would allow it - planting bulbs and annuals, weeding - she was always weeding. She would often pick wildflowers and shout to pull over while driving if she saw wild lilacs so she could bring a bundle home. There was at least one time she dove off a boat in an attempt to pick a pristine lily pad, resulting in her entanglement in multiple lily pads and needing to be pulled out of the mess. She enjoyed living in Wonder Lake by the conservation area where she could look out her window and watch the Blue Heron and Egret enjoy the lake.

She was an avid animal lover and loved her animal friends as deeply as her human friends. She saved many cats in her life and fed every scrap to her local wildlife.  Many squirrels, chipmunks, geese and ducks will need to find a new source of food in her absence.

Perhaps her greatest quality though was how she could appreciate and find the decency and kindness in almost everything and everyone. She could look past differences and disagreements, always being lead with her heart.  While she had many hardships in her life, she appreciated all she had, as little as it may have seemed. One can learn greatly from her resilience, perseverance and ability to live by the code of love.

She will be greatly missed.

A private funeral will be held in the next few days with immediate family.

Vickie’s wishes were to have a celebration of life and her children plan on fulfilling her wishes as soon as it is safe to gather-hopefully in spring when the lilacs are in bloom.

A go fund me has been organized for those wishing to support the family in accommodating her final wishes. Gf.me/u/zdx7gh

When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me, Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.