Leah Duckett Gray

Leah Duckett Gray

- - Our beloved Leah Duckett Gray passed away May 31 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital surrounded by family.

Leah is best known by her immediate family as an extraordinary and devoted mother and friend. Beyond that, she was a very accomplished immigration attorney working for Ahlgren and Associates for almost 15 years. Leah grew up in Denmark, WI, a small town outside of Green Bay with her two younger brothers, Patrick and James, and parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Derricks) Duckett.

Leah graduated cum laude from Marquette University in 1994 where she studied Political Science and Spanish. After graduation, she taught in Milwaukee and then in a poorer area of the Dominican Republic, which were both eye-opening experiences for her. Upon returning from her time abroad, Leah received her law degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she graduated cum laude in 1999. She then worked for Lifespan, a non-profit in Chicago, Illinois, providing immigration and domestic legal services to victims of domestic violence. In September 2002, Leah began working at the immigration firm, the Law Office of Robert D. Ahlgren and Associates, where she eventually became partner. Throughout Leah's immigration law career, she was an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, most recently serving on the Executive Board of the Chicago Chapter.

Leah leaves behind her husband of 12 years, Patrick, and their children, Mel (10) and Eve (9), and parents, Robert and Elizabeth, brother, Patrick, sister-in-law, Erin, nieces, Delaney and Kaylynn, brother, James, sister-in-law, Diana, and nephews, Raymond and Benjamin. She also leaves behind her mother-in-law, Joan Gray, brother-in-law, John Gray, sister-in-law, Carolyn Gray, niece, Hannah, and nephews, John and Bradley. In addition, she leaves behind many other family and friends too numerous to list.

Leah was preceded in death by her fraternal grandparents, Norbert and Arileen Duckett, maternal grandparents, Raymond and Lucille Derricks, and father-in-law, John W. Gray Sr.

Leah would like to be best known as the wonderful mother and wife that she is and a loyal and devoted friend and family member. Her mark on life is the immeasurable differences she made throughout the world helping those in need, be it personally or professionally. As an advocate for immigrants throughout her career, her work has touched thousands. She was overly humble to the extent that she would not be aware of the number of people that looked up to her, or aspired to be like her, or would credit her for saving their life.

She had so much more to do and give but now will need to do that from Heaven while looking over her family.

There will be a visitation offered at St. Josaphat Catholic Church on Friday, June 8 from 5-8 pm and funeral services at St. Josaphat Catholic Church on Saturday, June 9 at Noon. St. Josaphat is located at 2311 N. Southport, Chicago, Illinois.