Bubbles (aka Nika Bean McLaughlin), 18, died peacefully early the morning of Sunday, March 16, 2025, during a re-rewatch of season one of The Good Place with her parents Dawn & Stirling.
The unjustly brief time we shared with her here on Earth was often hard, but typically joyful and always interesting. She was a loving big sister to Teji, a deep thinker, and a fierce and unyielding advocate for social justice. Bubbles was also an unapologetically weird, dark and spooky kid. She was and will forever be cooler than any of us. So there is no use trying. Sorry, not sorry.
Bubbles has special magical connections with so many given and chosen family members: all her Auntie, Uncle, and Cousin teams, and of course her grandparents, Susan “Bubbie,” Ed “Grandpa,” Jamie “Grammy,”, and John “Papa John.”. Always by her side were her beloved feline protectors, Thrasher and Echo.
Bubbles was a New Yorker, having spent her early years in Washington Heights. She was a proud lesbian and a senior at Evanston Township High School, focusing on digital art. She hated sports, but loved RuPaul’s Drag Race. She enjoyed watching horror movies (the Scream franchise was her favorite) and baking shows. She was an expert at Photoshop. She made her chocolate chip cookies with brown butter. The circumstances of her life were dictated by her illness, and while it unquestionably brought her pain, she was loud and unapologetic about her disability.
She loved both Halloween and her family very deeply, and it was often unclear which she loved more.
In time we will have more and better words. For now, may her memory be a blessing.
Love you all.
Friends and family are gathering on Thursday, March 20, at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Ave., in Evanston. Doors open at 1 p.m., service begins at 2 p.m. There will be a shiva on-site from 3-5 pm.
Please wear what is comfortable and makes you feel most like yourself— Bubbles always did! Please check back to the funeral home website for zoom link: https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/nika-mclaughlin/#!/Obituary
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Proteus Syndrome Foundation: https://www.proteus-syndrome.org/, a very small and mighty group of parents.
Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.