Obituaries

Vanessa “Nez” Peoples, 61, died unexpectedly at her home on January 2, 2023. She was born in Stamford, CT, on April 22, 1961, to Brooke (Nance) Peoples and Dr. John Peoples. Vanessa is survived by Craig Duplack, her longtime partner, as well as her father, John, and Dorothy Duplack, Craig’s mother, and her stepson, Lisle Alderton, and his wife, Angie. She was preceded in death by her mother, Brooke, and her sister, Jennet. 

In September 1971, Vanessa’s family moved to Saint Charles, Illinois, from Ithaca, New York. Her father, who was an Assistant Professor in the Physics Department at Cornell University, was to spend a Sabbatical year at the National Accelerator Laboratory in nearby Batavia, which was later renamed Fermilab. In September 1973, Nancy and John bought a house in Geneva on Ford Street where Vanessa grew up and lived in for the rest of her life. 

Vanessa attended Coultrap Middle School and Geneva High School, where she met Craig. After graduating high school in 1979, she studied accounting at Waubonsee College. In 1988, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University, where she was a member of the Marketing Honor Society. 

Vanessa pursued her passion for helping animals. For several years Vanessa had worked for Merra Lee in Geneva and the Anderson Humane Shelter in South Elgin. In 2004, she attended the Veterinary Medical Technology Program at Joliet Junior College, and then became a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT). She spent two decades in veterinary medicine at the Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) Animal Hospital, where she worked in almost every department and specialty.

Vanessa was compassionate about helping pet owners deal with their pet’s serious health problems, and at the time of her passing, she was the Care Coordinator in internal medicine at the VCA hospital. She was a kind-hearted and generous person who loved caring for animals and her VCA colleagues alike. 

Her other passions included art, particularly drawing and painting, and she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition, Vanessa enjoyed reading, gardening, and cooking, and was known for her warm smile and gentle touch. She loved her dog, Frankie, and was known in her neighborhood as the go-to person for help with their pets. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 25 , 2023, at Yurs Funeral Home (405 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL). Visitation will be at 2 p.m., followed by services at 3 p.m., and a reception at 5 p.m. at Riverside Receptions (35 N. River Lane, Geneva, IL 60314). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following charities. 

• Guiding Eyes for the Blind – 611 Granite Springs Road Yorktown, New York 10598.
• The Humane Society of the United States – 2100 L Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 
• Joliet Junior College, Veterinary Medical Technology Program – 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, IL 60431

• Send Flowers
• Guest Book
• Share
• Email
• Print