Amy Szczepaniak died suddenly in her home on July 2. Born to Susan and Kazimierz Szczepaniak in Cleveland, Ohio the family relocated to Joliet when Amy was very young. She is preceded in death by her father Kazimierz (2019}, and survived by her mother Susan. Also survived by life partner, Anne Horrigan. She leaves behind one sister, Anna (Peter) Harlan; brothers Michael (Renae) Szczepaniak and Philip Szczepaniak; step mother Doris Szczepaniak; former sister-in-law Mariclaire O'Connor; niece and nephew Erin and Sam Szczepaniak, along with nephews Jonah, Quentin and Theo Harlan. Growing up in Joliet, Amy attended St Paul the Apostle grade school and St Francis Academy, and completed her education at NIU, followed by law school at DePaul University. As a staff attorney for the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, Amy worked tirelessly to uphold and defend the legal rights of the mentally ill. Her keen intelligence combined with her empathy and a deep desire to afford human dignity to those unable to so for themselves provided her with the perfect tools to effectively and successfully navigate both the intricacies of the law and the volatile and at times unmanageable world of the mentally ill population. Her unwavering sense of decency and her compassion for all living things was never as obvious as when she interacted with animals. Amy possessed an uncanny ability to understand and communicate with animals and found absolute joy in caring for her many pet companions, for whom she not just exceeded, but really went far beyond any generally accepted standards of care, ensuring them an optimal and thriving life. In addition to her many pets, Amy had a huge and life long love of horses, with literally nothing making her happier than horse back riding trips, especially in the mountains of New Mexico. Steadfast and loyal, Amy's kindness, curiosity, sense of adventure and exceptional wit left a deep and long lasting impression on those she met. Left to mourn her passing are the countless friends that she made through out her too short 53 years of life. With friends not only nearby, but also spanning the globe, no matter the location, Paris or Morocco, Rockford or Champaign, Tennessee or New Mexico, Amy always sought to maintain ties with the many people that she valued and loved so dearly. Deeply spiritual, but eschewing all dogma, her remarkable spirit was a force of nature. She was both coolly brilliant and effortlessly madcap, her contagious laughter drawing in those around her to share a new and exciting experience. With boundless generosity she was always available to lend a helping hand, to console, commiserate or offer encouragement. Amy's joyful and exuberant smile was like a clarion call from her heart, pure, clear and radiating love. Her passing has left a huge void in the lives of all who knew her. Her extraordinary presence will be most deeply and forever missed by Anne, her life partner of 22 years. Amy's and Anne's relationship was a mutual admiration club, the hallmarks of which were, in no particular order, devotion to the well-being of one another, delight in the absurdities of life, a shared moral compass, and a dark and off center sense of humor. Their abiding love and acceptance of each other was routinely commented upon as a source of inspiration and happiness for others. Memorial service will be held at Carlson Holmquist Sayles Funeral Home 2320 Black Road, Joliet, on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 3PM. Visitation will be from 1 until time of services.