Cassandra Rhonette Rice, affectionately known as Cassie, was born April 30, 1973, in Joliet, IL.

She married Abdula J. Rice on January 25, 2013, in DeKalb, IL. To this union was born the love of their lives, Aniyah J'Vette Rice.

Cassie peacefully went home to be with the Lord on June 24, 2023 at her home in Tempe, AZ.

Cassie was educated in the Oak Valley and Laraway Schools in Joliet, IL in her early years. She, her mother, and brother moved to Sycamore, IL in August 1984 and was enrolled in the Sycamore School District. She graduated from Sycamore High School in 1991. Cassie excelled in whatever she set out to do. She studied childcare classes at Kishwaukee College as it was evident from the many children she babysat. She then went out to the workforce that included Standard Register, Northern Illinois Gas Company and Graybar Electric. She transferred to Leveen, AZ with Graybar as an Electrical Product Specialist.

As her health was declining, she worked from home as an Admissions Recruiter with American University using her professional skills as a customer service and resolutions representative. Cassie had such a love for travel that she started her own travel company, CassAway Travel, in 2021. She enrolled in all the classes she could and achieved certification, including Disney Travel, which was quite an extensive program.

Cassie was a loving, kind, selfless and more importantly a spiritual woman. She had a beautiful laugh and impressionable smile that matched her sense of humor. Cassie loved music, sports, cooking, current affairs, and traveling. Her greatest achievement was her daughter, Aniyah. They were like twins, and inseparable, and Cassie was a very proud mother. Cassie and Abdula would often open their home to friends and relatives desiring to live in Arizona, all of whom would stay until they found employment and housing.

Cassie is survived by her husband, Abdula; daughter, Aniyah; mother, Renata Yvette (Kiser) Catlett; dads, Curtis Morgan Sr. and Michael (Viola) Lashley; sister, Jennifer Lashley; brothers, Curtis Morgan Jr., Christopher (Brianna) Lashley, and Aaron Lashley; great aunt, Essie (Bates) Ellis; aunts, Yolanda Lashley, Rhonda (James) Carson, and Regina (Huey) Metts; uncles, Clifton (Maricruz) Kiser, Charlie (Kim) Morgan Jr., Clifford (Sherrye) Morgan, Reginald (Tracy) Lashley, and Renard Lashley; sisters-in-law, Michelle Brown and Dora (late Calvin) Brown; brother-in-law, Cedric (Tammie) Rice; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends; and special friends, Jammi Strunk, Kirsten Askelson and cousin, Bryan Lashley.

Her visitation will be on Friday, July 14th from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL.

Her funeral service will be on Saturday, July 15th at 11:00 AM at the Israel of God's Church, W.H.A., 248 North Ave., Sycamore, IL. with Bishop Ronald C. Henton officiating.  A  visitation will also be at the Church from 10:00 AM until the service time. Burial will be at the Elmwood Cemetery.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com