PEORIA – Michelle Thies had a approach of constructing associates wherever she went – a undeniable fact that was evident when greater than 500 individuals attended her visitation.
An actual property agent, a mom of two and a lifelong resident of central Illinois, Thies, 44, died all of a sudden of a mind aneurysm Feb. 23.
The well-attended visitation was an incredible consolation to her household.
“Most all of them had an incredible story to inform, and we drastically appreciated them,” mentioned Thies’ father, Dennis Grieder. “We knew she had a lot of associates, however you don’t actually get the full scope of it till you see one thing like that. There have been associates and academics from grade college that had tales about her. She made an impression from the time she hit the bottom. There have been individuals, faculty associates of hers, one buddy who … acquired in his car and drove right here from South Dakota and turned proper round and needed to get again to South Dakota the subsequent morning. And plenty of, many associates from the Chicago space. She had a gaggle of faculty girlfriends that had been like sisters to her.”
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Actually thinking about individuals
Theresa Delano, who grew to become associates with Thies after shifting into her neighborhood in 2017, mentioned Thies befriended her at their very first assembly.
“At our daughters’ preschool commencement, she advised me precisely which home was hers, and that I had an open invitation to her home each Friday evening,” mentioned Delano. “She at all times had the best inquiries to ask. If I used to be going via a tough time, particularly final yr, dropping two individuals very near me, I’d sit there till 2 a.m. in her storage chatting. She made you are feeling like you could possibly simply open up as a result of she was so heat and welcoming, and really thinking about individuals.”
Thies grew up in Congerville and Regular, attending Regular Excessive Faculty and later attending Southern Illinois College, the place she studied psychology, mentioned her father. After graduating from faculty, she acquired a job in Peoria at Kids’s House, the place she met her husband, Brandon Thies.
“She and her husband had been an incredible crew. They did an incredible job with the women,” mentioned Grieder of his granddaughters, Marin, 12, and Audrey, 10.
She had simply began her dream job
Thies transitioned into actual property about 18 years in the past and began working with The Knell Group in January, mentioned crew chief Amy Weaver.
“Her finest buddy despatched me a message a number of days after her passing and mentioned, ‘It’s actually too unhealthy, the timing, as a result of this was her dream job, and she or he was so excited to change into a part of your group as a result of she felt like she had made it in the true property trade.’ That was a heartbreaker,” mentioned Weaver.
Thies had only in the near past posed for her promotional portraits, mentioned Weaver. These pictures are included in supplies brokers give out to new shoppers.
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“All of these advertising and marketing supplies had simply acquired carried out printing the week earlier than she handed. After I went to my first presentation after she handed, I opened it as much as introduce my crew, and it type of took my breath away,” mentioned Weaver.
Thies was well liked by everybody on the six-person crew, in addition to by brokers round Peoria, mentioned Weaver.
“Everytime you labored along with her, you had been comfortable,” mentioned Weaver. “You knew it was going to go easily.”
By no means decrease long-lasting complications or uncommon neck ache
Weaver was texting backwards and forwards with Thies on the day she died. Thies hadn’t felt nicely the day earlier than, and was debating whether or not or to not come into work for a gathering.
“Her neck was actually bothering her, and her imaginative and prescient was blurry,” mentioned Weaver.
As a result of Thies often suffered from complications, she didn’t instantly reply to her signs.
“By no means decrease long-lasting complications or uncommon neck ache,” mentioned Thies’ father.
About 6.5 million People, or 1 out of fifty, have an unruptured mind aneurysm, in response to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. About 30,000 individuals in america endure a mind aneurysm rupture every year. Girls, significantly these over the age of 55, have a better danger of mind aneurysm rupture than males – about 1.5 occasions the danger.
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Weaver, who had advised Thies to remain house that morning, acquired a name a bit of earlier than 9 a.m. from Brandon Thies shortly after his spouse collapsed.
“He mentioned he was on his option to the hospital and would hold me posted,” she mentioned. Weaver was at a consumer’s home when she missed Brandon Thies’ subsequent name.
“He was letting me know that she had handed. At that time, I used to be 45 minutes away from the workplace, and I knew I needed to let the women know immediately earlier than it acquired via the grapevine. It was horrible. It was the very last thing that any of us anticipated,” mentioned Weaver.
Discovering consolation
Michelle’s passing has left an incredible gap in lots of lives. Delano mentioned she has taken consolation within the phrases of a buddy.
“‘When somebody requested, ‘Why did Michelle have to depart so early?’ Cindy Bousky, a Keller (Major Faculty) trainer and a neighbor, mentioned, ‘She was good in God’s eyes. We should be on earth as a result of we’re not good. However at that cut-off date, Michelle was good, and she or he was able to go,'” Delano recounted. “So unhappy and delightful, and so true.”
Leslie Renken might be reached at 309-370-5087 or lrenken@pjstar.com. Comply with her on Fb.com/leslie.renken.
