Lombard HS cheerleader dies on Pennsylvania trip

LOMBARD, Ill. (WLS) -- A suburban Lombard couple is mourning the death of their 16-year-old daughter. Lija Hyssong died last week following a brief illness while on a trip to Pennsylvania. The cause of her death is a mystery.

Lija is being remembered as a happy person who treated everyone she met with kindness. Her parents say they fully expected that she would have a career in service to others because she enjoyed helping people so much and was always volunteering. But as her family mourns her death, they still await answers about why she died.

"She loved everyone. She welcomed people," said Phil Hyssong, father.

Phil Hyssong and his wife Angie are remembering their eldest daughter, Lija, after the 16-year-old fell ill and died while vacationing in Pennsylvania. It's still unclear what illness claimed her life.

"We have questions ourselves, what if she didn't go, what did we miss, what could have been different, not about us but about god and his plan for her life," said Phil Hyssong.

The Hyssongs say Lija began feeling sick as she prepared to leave early from a weeklong overnight youth group mission project sponsored by the church her family attended, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. She taught vacation bible school on the trip. Lija was going to head to Pennsylvania that Friday where she would meet with her China sisters -- a group made up of eight families who traveled together to China in 1999 to adopt eight girls -- including Lija.

The families reunite every two years and even though they couldn't go, the Hyssongs let Lija travel on her own, letting the family she was staying with know she might have the stomach flu.

"We have texts from her saying she's having a wonderful time. My final text with her was 'Having an awesome time, love you Dad. That was Monday night," said Phil Hyssong.

During the days to come, Lija was able to participate in some activities with the other girls, but by Tuesday morning she started feeling ill again. In the hours that followed, Lija would become unresponsive and be taken to Penn State Hersey Children's Hospital, where her parents rushed to her side and prayed for a miracle.

"They didn't realize what was happening was the miracle of time to spend with her, to encourage her and tell her how much we love her," said Angie Hyssong, mother.

She died the morning of July 3. The Glenbard East High School student -- who would have been a sophomore in the fall, enjoyed gymnastics and was a member of the cheer leading squad -- is being remembered as someone who made a big impact with the small things she did to make the lives of others better.

"And that's who Lija was. it was just genuine, caring , kindness, love," said Phil Hyssong.

Lija is also survived by her 13-year-old sister, Zoe, and other relatives and friends.

Autopsy results were inconclusive, although her father says additional tests are being done.

The funeral for Lija Hyssong is scheduled for Saturday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lombard.