Joliet's Great Comeback Story: Sue Regis Glass Art Back After 3-Year Break, 'My Memorial Work Is My Career'

JOLIET, IL — After closing her Sue Regis Glass Art studio in downtown Joliet three years ago because of serious health issues, the amazing comeback journey of Sue Regis has another positive twist. After a three-year-long absence, Regis is back at the torch — she is Joliet's only glass-blowing artist who operates their own studio.

Regis has returned to her unique artwork of crafting glass art, and she just announced to her Facebook followers that she has revived her memorial glass artistry. Regis is well-known throughout the Chicago region for her glass artwork to honor lost loved ones, both humans and pets.

During this week's interview with Joliet Patch's editor inside the Waywards Art Haus studio in downtown Joliet, which is now operated by her dear friend, Angelica Cristal, Regis talked about her health challenges and what her plans for 2026 entail involving Sue Regis Glass Art.

Regis said she has been creating her glass memorials since November.

"I have a spinal cord stimulator. That's how I am able to work again," she told Joliet Patch.

Regis explained that she has a brachial plexus injury: According to the Mayo Clinic website, the brachial plexus is the group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury happens when these nerves are stretched, squeezed together, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.

"I have a battery literally implanted in my back and wire leads that are up my spine and block the pain signals from my spine to my brain," Regis explained.

"I went through years thinking I wasn't going to be able to do it again. Thankfully, I saw some doctors at Rush Presbyterian in Chicago. They told me I was a good candidate for the spinal cord stimulator. I made the decision to get it done because I wanted to improve my quality of life and be able to blow glass again."

Regis is thrilled to be back at her game, as Joliet's only glass-blowing artist with their own storefront.

"There are no other businesses. There might be people working out of their home," Regis remarked.

"I Had To Train My Body And Mind To Do Things Differently"

Over the years, much of her business has involved creating memorials.

Regis makes memorials enclosed in glass for cremains of pets and humans. Most of her pet memorials involve dogs and cats, but she has done birds and rabbits.

"It's definitely much more difficult now, and I had to train my body and mind to do things differently because I rely much more on my right arm and right hand," Regis explained. "I want to blow glass all-around because I love it, but my memorial work is my career. I want to be able to continue to offer this to people grieving their loved ones or pets."

Since she revived her memorial making business in November, Regis estimated she has created at least 20 pieces of memorial art for people requesting her artwork.

Her pet memorials often include glass orbs, teardrops or heart-shaped pendants and rubbing stones.

"People can contact me," she explained.

The name of her Facebook page for her memorial business is Remembrance In The Flame. Her glass-blowing studio is at 32 West Clinton Street, directly across from the Joliet Public Library. She said that people must contact her by appointment only.

"It's very fulfilling as an artist to help people go through the grieving process," Regis explained.

"It Didn't Seem Like She Would Be Coming Back:" Angelica Cristal

Regis said she just received an order for a large amber heart pendant, with a dog named Lois Lane's cremains infused.

"I'm very thankful and happy for the small amount of time and for the things I can spend on the torch," Regis remarked.

As for Angelica Cristal, owner of Waywards Art Haus, she is one of Joliet's most spectacular sculpture artists. Last summer, the city of Joliet unveiled her one-of-a-kind Joliet Steelman statue at the city's Route 66 Park along Broadway Street behind the Rich & Creamy ice cream shop.

The Steelman statue is 9 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. A photo of it is included at the bottom of this Joliet Patch story.

Cristal said she has a number of art projects in the works for 2026, including ones for downtown Joliet's Illinois Rock and Roll Museum, led by Ron Romero, on nearby Cass Street, across from The Forge.

"I can make someone's portrait in five seconds," Cristal exclaimed. "I do a lot of mural work. I work for different cities."

One of her more recent public murals she created was in Ford Heights, where she said she teamed up with three other artists on the community project.

Cristal is overjoyed to have Sue Regis back working inside her studio. Both women are optimistic about the future of downtown Joliet, especially with the new City Square opening this spring.

As for Regis, "it didn't seem like she would be coming back. I'm just so grateful," Cristal said.