Neal A. Rylatt

Neal Albert Rylatt, 18, Rockford, finished his 18 month battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Born October 17, 1993 in Rockford, son of Shawn D. and Lisa A. (Dolan) Rylatt. Rockford resident for the past 13 years coming here from Roscoe. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Academy Program at Auburn in 2011 where he was class treasurer his junior year. He spent 4 years on the Cross Country team and ran track for 2 years. He was also a member of National Honor Society, the WYSE Team and the Math League. Neal loved Ultimate Frisbee, enjoyed Frisbee golf, and was an avid PingPong player. He also enjoyed unicycling and his pogo stick.Neal ran for the Rockford Wildcats for 5 years. He briefly worked at the North Main Culvers until he received his initial diagnosis in November, 2010. He completed his senior year of high school while receiving chemotherapy at the University of Wisconsin American Family Childrens Hospital. Neal was able to attend Franciscan University for 2 months until his illness relapsed in October of 2011. He was majoring in biology and mathematics in the hope of becoming an optometrist and was very active with Franciscan Students for Life. He was a passionate Roman Catholic and a member of the Cathedral of St. Peter. He was a member of the St. Pio circle of the Columbian Squires and was very active in the prolife movement, and during his illness and death lifted up all his suffering "For Da Babies" . Survivors include his parents; brother, Douglas; sisters, Colleen and Frances, who is also his goddaughter; maternal grandfather, Clarence "Fred" Dolan; paternal grandparents, Doug and Jane Rylatt; aunts and uncles, Lee Anne Dolan, Colleen "Michal" Zollinger, Diane Forray, David Dolan, Dan (Jan) Dolan, Kelly (Elizabeth) Dolan, Shirley (John) Kharsa, Tom (Tracy) Rylatt, Cindi (Dale) Jensen; numerous cousins and wonderful friends. Predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Colleen Dolan in 1980 and maternal grandmother Esther Dolan in January, 2012. Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Peter with the Very Rev. Carl Beekman officiating. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation from 58 p.m. Thursday May 17 th at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. with the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet conducted at 5 p.m. Visitation also from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter on Friday May 18 th .As per Neals request, there will be confessions offered at this time, so that those Catholics who will be receiving communion at the funeral Mass may do so worthily. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Franciscan Students For Life.