Lena Marie Nunez-Anaya

Lena Marie Nunez-Anaya was a ten-year-old girl from Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood whose short life left a lasting impression on family and community. Described by relatives as sweet and full of joy, Lena spent her days surrounded by her close-knit family — daughter of Deborah Anaya and Geovanny Nunez Soberanis, and sister to Julian, Ulysses, Joziah and Milani. She was also a beloved granddaughter and niece, cherished by relatives who celebrated her bright spirit.

Lena enjoyed ordinary childhood moments: watching television with family, playing with siblings, and being part of the everyday rhythms of a loving household. Those simple pleasures—time with family, small routines, and neighborhood ties—were central to what made her life meaningful to those around her.

Her death in late June 2020 sent shock and sorrow through Logan Square and beyond. Neighbors, community leaders and dozens of residents gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Lena’s memory, leaving flowers and lighting candles outside the family’s home. The outpouring of grief reflected how deeply her presence had been felt: not only a private loss for relatives and friends, but a communal one for neighbors who remembered a lively child with hopes and dreams.

In the weeks after Lena’s passing, family members worked to cover funeral costs and accept the support offered by friends and the neighborhood. Local clergy, aldermanic representatives and community groups joined the vigil and memorials, calling for peace and for protections that might spare other families similar loss. Those gestures underscored the love that surrounded Lena and the desire of many to honor her life by working for safer streets.

Though her life was brief, Lena Marie Nunez-Anaya is remembered for the human details that made her a daughter, sister and granddaughter: her laughter in family rooms, the ordinary comforts of a child’s days, and the affection of a neighborhood that gathered to mourn her. Her memory lives on in the family who loved her and in a community that marked her passing with candles, flowers and a plea for peace.