COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILY AFTER UNIMAGINABLE LOSS
AURORA–Heartfelt condolences have been shared in social media and on the GoFundMe page set up for the family of Nicole Dickerson, a 4th grade elementary school teacher at Welch Elementary School in Naperville and resident of Aurora, who passed away on Sunday, April 9 due to a tragic car accident that occurred on Thursday, April 6.
The GoFundMe page has generated over $50,000 as of Wednesday afternoon and has been set up by Hinsdale South High School Counseling Department, where Nicole's husband, James Dickerson, is a school counselor.
The fundraising page reads:
"On Thursday April 6th, the Dickerson family received the worst news imaginable; their beloved wife and mother had been in a horrible car accident. Nicole Nicholas Dickerson passed away April 9, 2023 after bravely fighting the injuries sustained in the accident.
Nicole worked as a teacher all her life, currently as a 4th grade teacher at Welch Elementary in Naperville. Nicole was a caring, patient, strong and beautiful wife, mother and teacher. Her absence will be felt tremendously for all of those who loved her.
Her passing leaves behind her husband, Jim, and their two children, Macy and Charlie. The family faces the tragedy of this unexpected loss with heavy hearts and grief. Jim is currently a cherished counselor at Hinsdale South High School who has also spent his entire career in service to others as both a teacher and counselor. He is a dedicated counselor who also guides students as a coach for the schools’ Cross Country and Track teams.
Jim will be the sole provider of care for their son, Charlie, who is diagnosed with both Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. In Nikki’s absence, there is much to navigate as the two of them managed his needs gracefully and selflessly together as a team. Charlie will continue to need daily support as he transitions to his adult life.
All proceeds of this fundraiser will go directly to the family, specifically to set up a special needs trust in the name of their son, Charlie and to support his daily nursing care. The proceeds will also go to their daughter, Macy, as she pursues her college and life dreams."
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
On April 6, 2023 officers responded to the area of Eola Road and Village Green Drive for a three-vehicle traffic crash just before 9pm. The preliminary investigation showed the driver of a southbound vehicle, a 32-year-old Aurora man, crossed the median and struck a northbound vehicle. The northbound vehicle, being driven by 48-year-old Nicole Dickerson of Aurora, was then struck by a third vehicle which was northbound Eola Road behind Dickerson’s vehicle. The crash remains under investigation by APD’s Traffic Division. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Aurora Police Department’s Traffic Division at 630-256-5330. Source: Aurora Police Department
