PRAIRIE DU SAC – Roxanne Harriet Accola, age 23, died on Monday, February 9, 2015, after taking her own life.
Roxanne was born on January 29, 1992 in Madison. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a truly kindhearted person, gentle and compassionate, always willing to listen and share, and to go to any lengths to take care of others' needs. She loved to laugh, doodle, draw, write and was always looking for ways to share her humor and bring the joy of laughter to the hearts of others.

Roxie was a 2010 graduate of Sauk Prairie High School and a student at the UW-Eau Claire majoring in Physics and a minor in Math. Her love and passion for learning was never ending. To say she was an avid reader would be an understatement as she wanted to read and learn and experience so much. She studied abroad in Sweden for a year and traveled to Guatemala with the V.I.D.A. Volunteer Health Program. Roxanne completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at Georgetown University. She was founder of the Society for Women in the Physical Sciences at UWEC.

Roxie was a Student Instructor for Two to Tango Social Ballroom Dance Club on the UWEC campus and was an Assistant Coach for the Girls on the Run program of Eau Claire County. She loved many genres of music, played the piano, saxophone and had a strong creative side. She recently discovered a love and talent for writing. She also loved to bake, cook, knit and spend time with her uncles and many cats on the farm.

Roxie's beautiful spirit is a strong and steady light shining through the darkness that led to her death, a loving beacon for us to follow as we make our way through this wilderness of mourning. May she be at peace.

Roxie is survived by her brother Martin, parents Jonathan and Gina Accola; grandparents, Harvey and Marjorie Accola, and Dolly Vanden Heuvel. She is also survived by uncles Robert (LeAnn), Dwight, Thomas (Bonnie) and James Accola; Rodney (Diane) and Bill (Cheryl) Vanden Heuvel. She is survived by her aunts Patrice, Carol, Paula and Molly Accola, Diane (Kjell) Ahnstedt, Christine (James) Vaudreuil; Marcia, Lorna, and Paula Vanden Heuvel, Donna King, Carla (Robert) Peot and Leanne (Todd) Hinkfus. She is also survived by many special cousins, second cousins and the family pooch, Machiavelli.

Roxie is preceded in death by her grandparents Lawrence and Harriet Vanden Heuvel, her aunt and uncle Ron and Sandra Schultz, and cousin Bradley Schauer.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be directed to a memorial/scholarship that is being developed at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in her name.

The family would like to specially recognize and thank Detective Travis Quella, Bridget Coit and Lt. Ryan Dalhgren of the Eau Claire Police Department, Tom Thelen, Dr. Matt Evans, Jeremy Kachmar, Ellie Larson, Joe Aphold, Pastor Doris Simpson, Carol Accola, Jim, Chris and Isabel Vaudreuil.

Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at CONCORDIA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 585 5th Street, Prairie du Sac. A Celebration of Roxanne's Life will be held at 1:00 pm at the church.