Dawn Renee Prendergast

January 29th, 2013

I am very happy to have had you be apart of my life. You have a beautiful spirit and I will remember the fun we had and the fight you have. I will make sure to love and enjoy my family and friends every day. My sympathy to your family, you will be deeply missed and are truly loved by many. RIP dear Dawn <3

~Karen
~friend, Tampa, FL

January 27th, 2013

I’m at a loss for words. I remember Dawn’s first day at Tarkington. I remember her first boyfriend, I remember watching “Kids in the Hall” in her basement. I remember how genuine she was. I can’t express my sadness for Sean, David, the Feinstein and Predergast families. My biggest regret is loosing contact with such a wonderful person. Dawn you will be missed. -Love-

~Douglas
~friend, Chicago, IL

January 27th, 2013

I never knew Dawn personally, but I remember seeing her around school, and she was friends with mutual friends of mine. I just wanted to extend my deepest condolences to her family and friends. So sorry to hear of your loss. May she be at peace now.

~Linsie Gilman (Shaffer)
~, Wheeling, IL

January 27th, 2013

Thinking about you and your family in this incredibly difficult time. I know there aren’t enough words to express your sense of loss, but I hope that peace and comfort find you when you need it most.

~Christy Hasselson
~Friend, Chicago, IL

January 26th, 2013

Dawn and my daughter Faith were best friends. She was like another daughter to me. Over the years I watch her go through so many changes. Developing her own unique style. Halloween was our favorite time of the year. I remember for years not having any trick or treaters because the house was so scary that the kids would cross the street when they passed our house. Then there were the Fright Fest haunted houses at Six Flags. We all worked that gig. Does anyone remember Dawns purple car. She saved her money for a year just to get her car painted. So sad, so young, but I am sure that she lived life her way. Cancer Suxs!

~Sandi Lake
~Family Friend, Wauconda, IL

January 26th, 2013

Dawn Renee,
Donn and I first met Dawn the first year Creature Crew came to Kenosha. She was introduced to me as my hairstylst, after that moment we worked together very well. I learned of her laughter, her beautiful smile and personality. She did my hair and helped me with most of my decisions for the event. She also took her acting skills to my amazement and became a funny, smartass character with her husband and a bunch of comical characters that I wanted to be around for the show. When she was doing hair and just working with her friends she “glowed”, I could see the mood, and she would affect my mood in return. When she asked me to be her model and let her cut my hair I was very honored and she not only educated me on her craft but I felt even more grateful to have a friend to lean on for all my needs when it comes to beauty. For someone with the poise and attitude toward the craft a passionate woman rubs off on her friends and makes them all better for it. I am so grateful to have met and known Dawn for 3 years, being my makeup and hair guru for both personal and business use. I am going to miss her very much and the events will be very different with her gone. But I promise to keep her memory alive by remembering what she taught me, and offering my shoulder to Sean and family when they need it.

~Sid & Donn Boring
~Co- Worker and Close Friend, Racine

January 25th, 2013

I’ve known Dawn for 23 years so I wouldn’t even know where to begin with memories. What i will remember most though is the fact that Dawn and I could not see each other for months and pick up where we left off. Her laugh and smile will always be engrained in my memory. But most of all the tenacity she had the last couple years. Never once did I hear a sadness or a tear in her voice during our conversations and with all she was going through still made time to listen to me complain about my own health issues. There wont be a day I dont think about her. Love you Dawn.

~Chris King
~Best friend, “brother”, Phoenix AZ

January 24th, 2013

So many great memories of Dawn , some of the greatest of my life……….I met her and her brother Dave in 7th grade….she was always a great and true friend….and my “blood” sister…..I will never forget you Dawn and your friendship….you truly were one of a kind.

~Heather (Lewon) Feather
~Friend, Minneapolis, MN

January 24th, 2013

What do you say?
What do you say that doesn’t sound trite, underwhelming or insincere?
What do you say when you’re not really, actually saying anything, but writing it in social media?
Perhaps simplicity is best. I am very sad. I will miss her. It sucks that anybody has to be taken in such a way. As I knew her, she was loud, brash and uncompromising (all positives), but she also worked hard, showed great talent, and was a hell of a troll (in a good way).
For those left behind, I wish for you strength, and hope you can see the benefit of years with her rather than just the last few when the Big C showed up. Know that memories will always remain, grief will fade (but not disappear); pain will subside.
You do the best you can. Friends and loved ones are the gifts we leave behind. On her behalf, make that count.

~Don Collignon
~Friend, business associate, Algonquin, IL

January 24th, 2013

I cant even remember when i met Dawn, 3rd or 4th grade. I just know she was always there for me when i needed her no matter how long had passed no matter how we fought when I needed her advice or someone to hang out with she was there. She was truly a great person and we are all so lucky to have had her in our lives.

~Shawn Aberman
~friend, Las Vegas, Nv

January 24th, 2013

I have a lot of childhood memories of Dawn, as her, her brother Dave, & I went through elementary @ Booth Tarkington & Junior High @ Holmes together, not to mention we lived only a few doors down in Tahoe Village for our whole childhood that seemed like a lifetime when your young!! The moment in time I’d like to share about Dawn was when I was over at there house in there basement with Dawn & Dave & we were just hanging out having a good time!! Dave & Dawn were wrestling around & then they did a little dance # that was very good & amusing! We all had some good laughs & then Dawn & Dave asked me if I wanted to watch a movie & I said sure what is it, & they said, Beaches!! I remember protesting a little saying isn’t that a girlie movie & they said no it’s a very good movie! So I said ok & we watched it together & we laughed together & even had a good cry together 🙂 as the movie was very touching & heartfelt!! I am glad still to this day that I didn’t let my male ego get in the way & decided to watch that movie with Dawn & Dave cause it was a great movie & i watched it with good friends!! It’s funny cause my wife was watching Beaches yesterday & she asked me if I had ever seen it & I told her yes & told her how I first watched it with my childhood friends Dawn & Dave in their basement!! I also remember fishing with Dawn & Dave in the pond out back of there house! Dawn was a Girlie Girl & a Tomboy at the same time when she was younger! You could catch her all dressed up ready to do some elaborate dance # or outback fishing in the pond or playing kickball at school!! No matter where she was she was always with her brother Dave for the most part, smiling & making others around her smile too!! I moved away to So Cal in 1990 & we kept in touch for a while even when Dawn & Dave moved to Cali! There was a big lapse in our adult life, but I’m sure she was still the same old Dawn, happy, smiling, & making the best of any situation!! There are a bunch of fun childhood times I could reminisce about Dawn but I’ll just say she was a loving daughter, a loving sister, & a good friend to all that knew her!! She was always a happy, free spirited girl & I know she will be missed by many!! I guarantee she is dancing & smiling away, waiting to be reunited with those she knew & loved!!

~John Paola
~Childhood Friend, Beautiful Southern Oregon

January 24th, 2013

I knew Dawn when she was in Jr. High school, & High School with my daughters, Nicole & Heather, they went to school with both awn & Dave. They met in High School & have been friends ever since. I think they might have some separate time,since we movedback to California at that time, so that created distance, but they reconnected. since we live so far away, but Niki has always kept in touch with both of them for one reason or another, but not for long. I met her at various times school fuinctions, dropping them off and so on, doing aactities or just to hang out. Dawn was such a sweet girl , and when I heard the news she wa sick, I just could not believe that someting so bad could happen to such a nice girl!!!! My heart and prayers go out to all er extended family and family friends at this time of mourning!!!!as a beautiful Angel!!!Susan, Dave and anyone close to her in the family , my condolences to you and my god bless and protesct you always, she’s lying in the hands of god now!!!!!

~Betty Lewon
~Family Friend, San Diego, CA

January 23rd, 2013

Dawn and Sean were two of the very first actors I met when I started Fright Fest in 1994 at the age of 16. I’d always known I wanted to do it and that was my first opportunity since I was finally of working age. Through some miracle, I was cast as a backup for Sean as Jason at the exit to the Mausoleum of Terror; the haunted house in the center of the park. I instantly idolized him. Later that weekend, we all went out for a bite to eat and he introduced me to Dawn, his lifelong friend. From there, everything just continued to get better and better. As the years rolled on… October after October, you could always count on her smile. Even when she was having a bad day either due to the weather (half of us were always sick) or possibly a negative encounter with a park guest, when you approached her… she cracked a massive smile that would make you forget about anything that was ailing you that day. That is what I think of every time I picture her and it, in turn, makes me smile. I cherish the time we had together and I will never, ever forget her.

~Chaz
~Fright Fest Friend, Palatine, IL

January 23rd, 2013

Sweetheart and a hair wizard. RIP Dawn – you’re truly missed.

~Sharon May
~, Palatine, IL

January 23rd, 2013

May you rest in peace, so sad to hear the news. You were taken much too young but now as a beautiful angel watch over everyone. Dave, Sean and family: thoughts & prayers to you all. I will not be able to make the service in the afternoon, but my thoughts and prayers shall be with you.

~Carolyn Castic
~friend, Volo

January 23rd, 2013

My beautiful sister.

~David Feinstein
~Brother, Wheeling, Illinois