Adora Sauer

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we share the passing of Adora Sauer, a radiant light in the lives of all who knew her. She was the beloved wife of Tony, and the deeply devoted mother to Ben and Jaden—“her boys”—her pride, her purpose, and her joy.

Adora was endlessly involved in her family’s life—organizing talent shows, cheering at games, helping with college essays, and guiding her boys with a mix of fierce love and gentle encouragement. Even through treatment, she never missed a moment that mattered. Her devotion was unwavering.

A brilliant attorney, Adora believed deeply that her career wasn’t just what she did—it was who she was meant to be. After beginning in the State’s Attorney’s office and stepping away to raise her sons and work with her father in the family business, she later returned to law with a calling that matched her heart. Her work at MMLaw—seeking justice and reparations for victims of terrorism—was the embodiment of that calling. It wasn’t just a job; it was her life’s mission, and she poured her soul into it. Even during treatment, she could be found working from a hospital bed or joining Zoom calls between scans. Her commitment to justice never wavered, even when her strength was tested beyond measure.

Adora faced cancer with the same focus and grace that defined her life. She transformed her lifestyle—walking miles each day, meditating, nourishing herself with care, and grounding in nature, especially the botanical gardens and shoreline she cherished. Everything she did, she did with intention.

Her beauty was never just in her appearance or achievements, but in her love, her courage, and her audacity to believe. She was joyful. She danced, laughed, played cards late into the night. She had an incredible sense of humor and a deep reverence for the people she loved—her family, her friends, her sister Lea and mother Jill, and even her sweet dog Teenie. She believed in the good in others and had the rare gift of making everyone feel truly seen, valued, and loved.

She was deeply spiritual—blending her Jewish faith with the teachings of Jesus and Kabbalah. She believed there was no wrong way to pray—only the path that brings you closer to love and God. In her final days, Adora’s words reminded us of her strength and spirit:
“I didn’t come this far to lose this battle.”
And she would repeat what had become her mantra, her prayer:
 “I choose life.” She chose it every single day—in her fight, her family, her friendships, and her fierce pursuit of justice and love. “No matter the darkness around her, 
Light ran wild within her,
 and that was the way she came alive, and it showed up in everything.”


Adora’s legacy lives on in the lives she changed, the joy she gave, and the Light she carried—still running wild in the hearts of all who love her.

Adora was the beloved wife of Tony Sauer; loving mother of Ben and Jaden Sauer; caring sister of Lea (Gavin) Fine, Linzy Upton-Spatz and Skippy Upton Mesirow; cherished daughter of Jill Riskin and Larry (Marilee Upton-Spatz) Spatz, and daughter-in-law of Josephine and the late Joseph Juhas; kind sister-in-law of Michael (Maria) Sauer, Cheryl (John) Parsons and Debbie (Ross) Takaki; proud aunt of Bode and Jake Fine; loved granddaughter of Bunnie and the late Shelly Riskin.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd, Wilmette, IL 60091. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery.

Please contact funeral home for shiva information.