Skylar O’Connell, 29, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, February 5th, 2026. She was born in January of 1997, to Michael and Stephanie O’Connell. A beloved sister to Alexander O’Connell, and Evan Kemp, and daughter of Christopher Kemp, her Step-Father.

      She grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, a rambunctious child who loved to climb trees, ride her bike, run around the neighborhood with her friends and refused to nap. She spent many years boating and camping with us on the Illinois River, so Ottawa and Starved Rock Yacht Club felt like a second home to her. She graduated from Somonauk High School in 2015 and attended Waubonsee and Kishwaukee Community Colleges. Skylar had many passions, one of them being music. She learned how to DJ with her brother Alex and went on to play several gigs with him and on her own. She grew up watching her father play guitar, so naturally she picked it up and loved playing the guitar and bass in her spare time. Skylar rocked out at many events for her family and friends and also played at the Bull Moose in Sandwich. She was also passionate about all things related to Information technology and dreamed big on what she wanted to do with it. But more than that, she was passionate about her friends and family. Skylar was highly intelligent and could carry a conversation where you always learned something new. She loved deeply and was always there to listen. Skylar never said goodbye, it was always, “Love you”.

She is survived by her Father Michael O’Connell of DeKalb, Illinois; her Mother Stephanie (Chris) Kemp of Punta Gorda, Florida; her brothers Alexander (Alexandria) O’Connell of Fate Texas, and Evan Kemp of Punta Gorda, Florida; also her maternal grandfather William (Mollie) Montgomery of Sycamore, Illinois; and her step grandparents Gary and Debbie Kemp, of Leesburg, Florida; her uncles Darin (Melanie) O’Connell of Illinois and Ryan (Suzanne) O’Connell of Houston Texas; her aunt Carolyn (Bill) Wenckebach of Spring Grove, Illinois; her step aunts Debi (née Watson) (Bryan) Trenholm of Punta Gorda, FL, Wendi Watson McHugh of Estero, FL and Jeanette (Jay) Mullholland of Rochelle, IL. Skylar had many cousins also that loved her: Katherine Cubert, Andrea Paquin, Jocelyn Wenckebach, Jina and Jorja Mullholland, Brooke and Regen Montgomery, Brett and Danielle O’Connell, Lee, Aidan, Erin, Dylan, and Jonathan O’Connell.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother Pamela Whitson; her paternal grandfather and step grandmother Jerry (Linda) O’Connell; her paternal grandmother Linda Tate; her uncle Scott Montgomery; and her Aunt Alison Tate Campos.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Faranda’s Banquets, 302 Grove St, DeKalb, Illinois. We will open with a few words and a video montage for Skylar, and then luncheon will be provided. Please RSVP to 815-751-5425.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the O’Connell Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.