The Ashley Nicole Adrahtas Scholarship Fund was created by Lisa and Tony Adrahtas of Naples, Florida in loving memory of their daughter. This scholarship fund has been established to support individuals seeking careers in veterinary medicine.
Ashley was born on May 27, 1996, to the Adrahtas Family. She was raised in Plainfield, Illinois where she attended Crystal Lawns Elementary School, Timber Ridge Middle School, and Plainfield Central High School. Ashley was an exceptionally good student. She loved to write and often spent hours creating fictional stories about anything and everything. She would recite them to us with the same passion she wrote them.
Growing up, she participated in several activities … Ballet, Dance, Soccer, Softball, Gymnastics, Ice Skating, Irish Dancing, and Cheerleading. It was clear that team sports were not her “thing.” While she excelled at Gymnastics and Figure Skating, her passion became Cheerleading. She would routinely practice and demonstrate her skills to us. Ashley was a member of the Plainfield Central Cheer Squad and participated in several cheer competitions through the years. She was all of five’2” and weighed about ninety pounds. That made her the “flyer” or the person at the top of the formation, getting tossed around like a rag doll during football, basketball games and competitions.
Ashley loved to travel and especially enjoyed Florida and the beach. One of her grandmother’s made Florida her full-time residence. Each summer, they had a weeklong Grandparent/Grandchild Holiday. From the time Ashley was 6 until 16, she would fly there and spend the week with her. Through the years she made several more trips to Florida, cruises to the Bahama’s and various other places with family and friends. One week before her passing, she spent several days with us in Naples and had a wonderful time boating, watching dolphins, dining out and relaxing by our pool.
From an early age, it was evident that Ashley loved pets. Her first was a Cockatoo named Freddy. From there it was fish and other pets, and the first family dog, Madison. About three ½ years ago, Ashley acquired her baby, Demi, the Pitbull/Jack Russel mix you see pictured. She loved and treated that dog like it was her child … it was her child.
She was employed by The St. Charles Emergency Veterinary Clinic and was learning and advancing her skills. She was so excited and wanted to perform more procedures to her 4-legged patients. Often, she would text and call with incredible stories of the work she and her colleagues performed on animals. In her last visit with us, she mentioned going back to school, which we encouraged. She certainly was smart enough and capable of becoming a veterinarian one day.
On November 27, 2021, Ashley was tragically killed in a car accident at the age of 25. We will never understand why God took her from us at such an early age, but we are certain there is a good reason. We know you are enjoying your new set of wings and surrounded by your friends, Andrew Meyers and Jamie Lynn Pay, along with Papa Nally, Gaga and Papa Mensch, Grandma and Grandpa Kabat and Yia Yia and Popou Adrahtas.
The animals in heaven are happier, even though we are so much sadder.
We are humbled by the overwhelming support of our family, friends, and community and will forever be grateful. Our family is hurt but we are strong and will forever be grateful for the 25 years that we had with Ashley.
Please help us with our mission by donating to Ashley’s Scholarship Fund so that others may have the opportunity to benefit. Our intent is to keep Ashley’s name eternal.
This fund profile has been written by the Fund Advisors.
