In the early hours of Saturday, November 30th, the world lost a bright light–Abigail Willa Doherty.  Abby, affectionately known as ‘Roo’, was born on July 2nd, 2005.  She had a smile and energy that was infectious.  There was a twinkle in her eye as she laughed, and all those who knew and loved her will cherish how she could be both tender and sassy at the very moment that we needed it the most.

She loved animals–especially Zeppelin, Trixie, Bowie, and Winnie: her sweet and loving nature drew them to her, much like her lifelong core group of friends whom she dearly loved.  That was Abby–she lived out loud in her uniquely personal sense of style, and she loved passionately.

We knew Abby as an explorer, trying anything that came her way and bringing the rest of us on her journey, even documenting those cherished memories in her body art to keep them at her fingertips.

However, we couldn’t speak about Abby without honoring her love of everything theater.  She loved the stage, but even more than that, she loved fostering that love with hundreds upon hundreds of other young people throughout the area.  Abby loved family, and she was blessed with so many of them–her Ghostlight family, her ‘mudrewm’ family, her LTHS family, and most of all, those who were honored to call her family: her devoted parents and siblings, and each and every grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, and extended family member.

There are not enough words to express the love that we will forever hold in our hearts for Abby and for the profound depth of our grief.  We are bereft, and we will strive to live our lives with her beautiful spirit to guide us.

Abby is survived by her parents Michael and Micki (Kriz) Doherty; her siblings Jack and Kate; her grandparents Michael and Willa (Osterholt) Doherty, Donald and Eileen (Cooks) Kriz; her aunts and uncles Kim (Mike) Atwater, EJ Roberts (David Greene), Becky Kriz, Ryan Doherty (Grant Sahr), Sean (Deanne) Doherty, Karen Martin, Barb (Mark) Purcell; her godparents, Kelly Doherty and Mike Atwater; her cousins Tyler Roberts, Kevin Atwater, Ethan (Emerald) Roberts, David (Elizabeth) Atwater, Daniel Atwater, Molly Doherty, and Emily Doherty.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Diane Kriz; her great-grandparents Patrick (Shelia) Doherty, Joseph (Francis) Kriz, William (Jessie) Osterholt, and Joan ‘Pickles’ and Frank ‘Bing’ Mokos; her great aunt Adele (Osterholt) McCullar, her aunt Maura (Doherty) Avis, her aunt Deirdre (Doherty) Klem, her uncle Keith Roberts, and her cousin Ben Purcell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Abby’s home away from home–Ghostlight Theater (https://www.ghostlightetc.com/donate) –to help other young people to find and follow their passions.

Visitation 1pm until 9pm with a 6pm chapel service on Wednesday, December 4th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Interment will take place privately. Additional information: 708-352-6500