Mireille Day Obituary

Mireille "Lisa" Day, 55, of East Peoria, passed away unexpectedly on June 24, 2025. She was born in Athens, Greece on December 28, 1969, to Gerald and Evelyn (Sampson) Kirschbaum.
She is survived by her parents, Gerald and Evelyn (Sampson) Kirschbaum of East Peoria; children, Justin (Anna) Barnett of Tremont and Jesse Barnett of East Peoria; siblings, Shelley (James) Kiesewetter of Metamora, Kathryne Kirschbaum of Germantown Hills, Jennifer Kirschbaum of Creve Coeur, and Jonathon (Susie) Kirschbaum of East Peoria; soulmate and best friend, Jeff Corey of East Peoria; 8 nieces and nephews; grandson, Parker, whom she adored being a grandmother to; and grandchildren, Blake and Eliza Bikai of Tremont.
She was preceded in death by her son, Ian Day, whom she loved and missed dearly.
Lisa was a strong, independent, and free-spirited woman who was known as a caring and loving mother and friend to all who knew her. She was a beacon of love and was always ready to greet someone with a smile and cheer them on or help in any way she could, regardless of her own circumstances. Lisa loved to bring friends and family together to focus on the positives and what really mattered in life. She was honest, lived with a sense of wonder, and worked tirelessly to show her love and support to those who mattered most. Lisa leaves her love and a long-lasting impact on all those she knew. She will be missed beyond measure, and her memory will live on in those whom she knew and loved.
She volunteered for Central Illinois Riding Therapy (CIRT) and enjoyed traveling, kayaking, scuba diving, camping, and horseback riding.
Lisa worked at Caterpillar for 35 years, starting in the East Peoria Apprenticeship Program and working her way up to become a Product Procurement Engineer. During her tenure, she developed a ring splitter and was awarded a patent for her design. She developed the ring splitter to aid in processing parts to help protect employee health and safety.
Lisa wished for her service and remembrance to be uplifting, so her family invites you to wear a bright-colored or Hawaiian shirt in her memory.
The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Gary Deiters Funeral Home & Cremation Services in East Peoria (444 E. Washington St.), with a Time of Reflection beginning at 6 p.m. Pastor Howard Love will officiate. Private burial will be with her son, Ian, at Hirstein Cemetery in Morton.
Memorial contributions may be made to CIRT or The Crittendon Center in Peoria. Online condolences may be left at www.GaryDeitersFH.com.