Annika “Toby” Caroline Lundgren, 17, passed away on April 14, 2026, surrounded by the deep love of her family and closest friends after a courageous fight with cancer.

 

Annika was so many things to so many people, but above all, she was a beacon of light. She had a rare gift for making others feel seen, welcomed, and truly loved simply by being herself. Whether you knew her for years or only a brief moment, she left a mark that lingered.

 

Born on August 21, 2008 in Winfield, Illinois, Annika grew up in Plainfield, where she built a life full of friendships, laughter, and passion. She attended Wesmere Elementary, Drauden Point Middle School, and was a proud senior at Plainfield South High School. A dedicated member of the wrestling team all four years, she was strong, determined, and fearless in showing up fully as herself.

 

Music was Annika’s greatest joy and truest expression. She began dancing at just three years old and never stopped performing. From theater to madrigals, from worship team to choir, the stage was where she came alive, sharing her beautiful, powerful voice with all who listened. Her love of music knew no bounds. It spanned Broadway, metal, jazz, hip-hop, and everything in between, and she found pure happiness in concerts and performances shared with those she loved. Wherever she went, she carried that joy with her.

 

She had a spirit for adventure and loved to travel. She especially loved the city of Chicago, her beloved “’CAGO!”, and never missed a chance to cheer on the Cubs. She had been fascinated with Abraham Lincoln since preschool, and more than a few family trips were planned around that love, with Gettysburg as her favorite place to experience that history. San Francisco also held a special place in her heart, and she was looking forward to traveling to Japan this summer. Whether it was time with friends, often driving them around in her fun, unmistakable car “Shelly,” laughter with family, or quiet moments surrounded by those she loved most, Annika found and created joy in the everyday.

 

Annika brought the same heart, determination, and quiet strength to her academics as she did to every part of her life. She challenged herself with honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses, earning a place on the honor roll every semester and becoming a member of the National Honor Society. More than her achievements, she was deeply loved by her teachers and school staff, who saw not only her dedication but the kindness, warmth, and light she brought into every classroom. She dreamed boldly about her future, applying to six colleges and being accepted to each one. Before her health began to decline, she completed four auditions and was accepted into every music program she pursued, earning numerous scholarships along the way. She planned to become a music therapist, a path that so perfectly reflected who she was, someone who used her gifts to bring comfort, connection, and healing to others.

 

Her faith was a steady and guiding presence in her life. At Community Christian Church in Plainfield, Annika was an active member of the Kids’ City Worship Team, sharing not just her voice but her heart, and inspiring a new generation of artists and followers of Jesus. Her love for Jesus was lived out in kindness, strength and a love that uplifted those around her.

 

She adored her cats, Bjork and Siouxsie, who were never far from her side. She loved deeply and without hesitation—her family, her friends, and everyone lucky enough to know her. She often said, “I tried my best, and that’s what matters,” a reflection of the quiet strength, humility, and grace with which she lived her life.

 

Annika is survived by her adoring parents, Holly and Chris; her siblings, Colin (Tasha) and Isabelle (Steven); her nephew, SJ; her grandparents, Jack and Carol Gordon and Karen Lundgren; her aunt Kim (Ryan) Lewis; her cousins JoshyPoo (Abigail) and BabyCaleb (Riley) Lewis; her boyfriend, Parker Brewster-Graning; her lifelong best friend and honorary sister, Maya Gajos; and countless friends and extended family whose lives are forever touched by her.

 

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Cliff Lundgren.

 

Though her life was far too short, it was filled with profound meaning, love, and impact. Annika will be missed beyond words and remembered in every song, every laugh, and every act of kindness carried forward in her name.