Caroline Chmielewski

To know Catherine was to be swept up in her energy. A 40-year-old powerhouse in the Chicago real estate community, Catherine was a force of nature - brilliant, determined, and deeply devoted to the people she loved. She spent her career helping others build their dreams.

After years of professional success, Catherine’s greatest dream came true when she married her husband, Patrick, and they prepared to welcome their first child. She approached motherhood with the same fierce love and "all-in" spirit she brought to everything else.

Tragically, shortly after the birth of their beautiful daughter, Olivia, Catherine suffered a fatal Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE). It was a sudden, devastating complication that took a vibrant life far too soon. 

While we mourn the loss of an incredible woman, we walk in celebration of her legacy, her daughter, and her family & friends. Baby Olivia spent just over a week in the NICU, where she received the critical, life-saving care that allowed her to grow, thrive, and carry her mother’s spark forward.

We walk for the March of Dimes because they fund the very research that works to prevent maternal health tragedies like AFE, and they support the NICUs that brought Olivia home to us.

Catherine’s favorite flower was the pink tulip. To honor her memory, we invite all walk attendees to visit the Honor Tent at Chicago March for Babies on April 26 to pick up pink tulip seeds to plant in their own gardens. 

As these flowers bloom across Chicago each spring, they will serve as a living reminder of the strength and light Catherine brought into our lives. We hope you will plant them in a special place and watch her legacy grow.