Andrea was born August 29, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois to Jerry Russell and Ajeenah Crittendon. Andrea was baptized and received Christ at an early age. At birth her grandmother nicknamed her Nookie. However, she became known as Nook to her family and her childhood friends. Andrea’s primary education started at Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School until she moved on to Bryn Mawr Elementary School on Chicago’s Southside. While at Bryn Mawr Elementary School Andrea’s entered the State of Illinois Writing Essay Contest Sponsored by McDonald. Out of hundreds of contestants statewide, Andrea walked away with 1st Place, receiving a Check for $1000. She also got to experience her first limousine ride and dinner at a 5 Star Upscale Restaurant in the Chicagoland area. Upon graduating from Bryn Mawr Elementary Andrea went on to attend Whitney Young High School on Chicago’s West. She later attended Truman College. Andrea’s first major Employer was at ENSR where she met and nurtured several life-long friendships with MaryAnn Ponstein, Joshleen Dengam, and Judy Allport to name a few. After leaving ENSR Andrea found her final work home and work family with KYB, Corporation in Addison, Illinois. She worked at the Addison location for several years before she relocated to KYB’s Franklin, Indiana location where she also became a Homeowner and expanded her sphere of friends and friendships especially her special friendship with Shannon Bass and her family. Andrea continued her work career at KYB, Franklin for over 11 years before her untimely passing. To know Andrea was to love Andrea. She had a wicked sense of humor and loved to make her friends and family laugh at her silliness and her corky jokes. She had a love for music, going to the movies and simply hanging out with her family and friends. Andrea developed her love for a variety of foods by venturing out regularly with her beloved grandmother to sample a host of cuisines. She loved food! Andrea would try any kind of food at least once. The best way to Andrea’s heart was to say, “hey let’s go and eat.” You knew you were her friend when Andrea would share and help you prepare one of her favorite dishes, Greens with Smoked Turkey Tails. Andrea was born with one normal size Kidney and a small abnormal size Kidney which led to a future diagnosis of Diabetes in her early adult life. Even though she dealt with many health challenges she was never without a big smile on her face no matter what life threw at her. Andrea was simply an exceptional human being. Her infectious personality, along with her kindness and big heart will be missed by her mother, her family and all of her friends who came to loved her. Andrea did not have the opportunity to once again receive the ‘Gift of Life’. She also did not get the opportunity to give the ‘Gift of Life’ to others as she wrote in her ‘Final Medical Directives’, which simply stated: “Donate whatever that can be used to help save someone else’s life” Andrea’s final message to the people who matter to me: “I truly, truly love you all. Thank you for loving me back and making my world as safe and as colorful as it could be. The love and care I have received from family and friends have been extraordinary” …Andrea M. Taylor Andrea, (Nook) was the best loving daughter her mother could ever hope to have. She leaves to cherish her memories her loving mother Ajeenah Crittendon, her loving Step-Dad, Steve Kyles, her Aunts Deborah Taylor, Stephanie Shaffer, Doris Taylor and her Uncle Stephen Taylor; her first cousin Audra Burrell, cousin, Sherita Wilson and Curtis Wilson; best friends, Joshleen Dengam, Judy Allport, Shannon Bass, Mariann Martin, Maryann Ponstein along with a host of other relatives, friends and special co-workers. Family’s Wish: In-Lieu of flowers the family ask that everyone make your donation(s) in Andrea’s Honor to the National Kidney Foundation. https://kidneytribute.rallybound.org/AndreaTaylor. “Donate whatever that can be used to help save someone else’s life”