Vanessa L. Irby, age 44, of Edwardsville, Ill., born April 19, 1975 in Chicago, Ill., died unexpectedly on Saturday evening, February 8, 2020 at Christian Northeast Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Vanessa grew up in Chicago, and later moved with her family to Greenville, Ill., where she graduated from high school. She earned her BA from SIU Edwardsville. Most recently, she worked as an administrative assistant for a law office in St. Louis. As a young child, Vanessa participated as a contestant in beauty pageants. She loved to debate politics, and was a very ecologically minded nature-enthusiast. Vanessa was very bright and her parents were very proud of her accomplishments.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Irby and sister Belinda Martin.

Vanessa is survived by her daughter Paige Guthier, her mother Theresa "Carol" Rydberg; her sisters Anitra Irby, Chandra Fields and Renee Williams; her brothers Lance Irby and Kevin Irby; her Aunt and Uncle, Irene and Bill Vohlken; her fiancé Robert Brownlee; the father of her child Benjamin Guthier; the grandmother of her child Hope Wilder, and other extended family members and friends.

To help her daughter Paige to remember her mother, please share a memory of Vanessa at www.wfh-ofallon.com . Vanessa's wishes were to be cremated.

Friends are welcome to attend a Memorial Visitation from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.

A Memorial Service will begin at  2:00 pm, Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the funeral home.