BECKY'S
STORY
Rebecca Eaton Lopez
August 26, 1977 – April 23, 2014
Becky's inspirational story begins when she was born the middle child of Monty and Sue Eaton. She attended grade school at Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor, IL. She then attended Marian Catholic High School from 1991-1995.
She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University in 1999. Becky also received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She was working on her degree in Education Administration at the time of her diagnosis in 2012.
Becky excelled in the classroom as a special education teacher. She worked mainly with children with behavioral and emotional disabilities. By doing this she touched and opened the minds of many young individuals. Changing the lives of children for the better was her calling.
In August 2010, Becky married the love of her life, Ken Lopez. Just a year later, their hearts grew even fuller with the arrival of their son, Drew Preston.
But joy turned to fear when, at just four months old, Drew underwent major skull surgery on December 30, 2011. As Becky and Ken were still catching their breath from that ordeal, their world was turned upside down once again. On January 16, 2012, Becky received the devastating news: she had metastatic breast cancer. By the time it was discovered, the cancer had already spread to her bones, liver, and both lungs.
Then, just five months later in June 2012, they learned the cancer had reached her brain. Through it all, Becky continued to show extraordinary strength and grace. For the next two years, she remained dedicated to her work as an educator — a role she loved deeply. Teaching gave her a sense of purpose and a thread of normalcy amid the whirlwind of doctor appointments, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.
Becky’s fierce spirit never dimmed. She stood up for what she believed in with unwavering strength — whether it was advocating for the children in her classroom, standing by her family, or facing the greatest battle of her life. Through every hardship, Becky held tightly to her vibrant sense of humor and her boundless love for fun. Even in the darkest moments, she found light.
Becky’s Warriors was born from the very values she embodied every day. Becky gave selflessly, always putting the needs of others before her own. Her heart was tuned to the emotions of her students, her friends, and her loved ones — offering comfort, strength, and a helping hand wherever it was needed.
What made Becky so remarkable was her sincerity and grounded nature. She was practical, thoughtful, and deeply human. She never stopped fighting for what mattered, and she never lost her joy — or her gift for making others smile.
Today, Becky’s legacy lives on through Becky’s Warriors — a non-profit created to reflect the hope, courage, and compassion that defined her life. It exists to support Marian Catholic families facing cancer, just as Becky would have done — with grace, grit, and an open heart.
