In Tribute: Services for ‘beautiful soul’ Thomas Signorile, 18, of Highland Park, set for Saturday, Nov. 19

Friends, family and neighbors will gather on Saturday, Nov. 19, to celebrate the loving and inspirational life of Thomas Signorile, an 18-year-old from Highland Park who died suddenly on Friday, Nov. 11.

Signorile’s memorial services begin at 3 p.m. at Kelley and Spalding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Road, in Highland Park. The family is asking that guests bring a white or red rose — both favorites of Signorile — to place on his casket.

Donations to assist with funeral and end-of-life costs are being collected online at EverLoved.com, and as of press time (2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17), more than $11,500 had been raised for Signorile’s family.

“It is with a heavy heart and great disbelief that we have lost such a beautiful soul,” wrote Lisa Vasquez, Signorile’s mother, on the EverLoved page. ” … Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for all your love and support during this very difficult time.”

Thomas Signorile grew up going to Highland Park public schools. He went student at Ravinia Elementary and Edgewood Middle schools to a graduate from Highland Park High School this past spring (2022).

With an interest in medicine and medicinal research, he earned scholarship funds to attend Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc, where he was a freshman at the time of his death.

“He really wanted to research medication, learn how to make medication and find cures,” his older sister, Kristina Burney, said in an email to The Record.

Burney said Signorile was not feeling well “on and off” and it got worse on Nov. 9-10, telling his family he was going to see the college’s nurse on Nov. 11.

She said he passed away overnight before he could make that visit.

“He was very compassionate and kind,” Burney said. “Was all about spreading love and trying to be the best person he could be.”

Signorile thought a lot about his education and future. He hoped to be a parent one day and was set on adopting to help children who “weren’t necessarily accepted or loved,” Burney said.

He enjoyed escape rooms and playing cards. He looked forward to traveling more. “Shark Tank” was one of his favorite TV shows, and his friends were “very important to him,” she wrote.

Signorile will be honored with a service on Saturday, Nov. 19, in Highland Park. Details and more information can be found at EverLoved.com, where the family is also raising money to support end-of-life costs.

“We appreciate anybody who is going to donate to the fundraiser but what is most important is to just put his story out there,” Burney said. “He was a big part of this community … so we just would like his memory to live on.”

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