Ariana Elena Tejada

12, of Indianapolis, passed away on March 2, 2016.

On October 25, 2003, Nelson “San Miguel” and Suzanna Tejada introduced to their family and the world Ariana Elena Tejada. On March 3, 2016 Nelson, Suzy and Ariana’s 8 year old brother Jonathan were by her side as she departed these temporary confines for her eternal home. Ariana is also survived by her paternal grandparents Andres and Marina Tejada of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, and her maternal grandparents Lynn and Donna Warner of La Porte, Indiana. Ariana was the first grandchild on the Warner side of the family and received several years of undivided attention before there were other cousins to share the love.

Ariana began school and spent her kindergarten and 1st grade years at Acton Elementary before finishing her elementary school years at Kitley. Her Kitley years culminated in her receiving the Cougar Award in 2015 as the student of the year. Ariana loved learning and school where her favorite subjects were Social Studies and Language Arts. As a student, she excelled and even while sick made efforts to attend classes at Franklin Township Middle School East up until a week before her passing.

On August 10th 2014, Ariana Tejada was baptized at Indian Creek Christian Church and evidence of her faith was demonstrated on a daily basis. Her family is assured in her faith and know there were others there, in heaven, to meet her and celebrate her homecoming.

Her 3 year battle with cancer weakened her but her resilience and quiet determination did not allow cancer to define her. She traveled the world taking 4 trips to the Dominican Republic throughout her life and trips to the Bahamas, Grand Caymans, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, England, and the Netherlands- some of these trips made possible through Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ariana felt a special kinship towards Anne Frank and spent many hours learning about the life of Anne Frank and others who had endured hardships and inequalities but still found ways to effect the world for the better. Like Anne Frank, the life of Ariana made an imprint on the world as she shared her spirit through “Ariana’s Journey”. “#Arianastrong” made its way through schools, churches, communities, places of work, coffee shops, over the breadth and width of this continent and spilled over the oceans into circles in other places touching lives we will never know. She was a special girl and her strength, her story, and her faith transcended the cancer that took her life as she touched the world.

Visitation will be held at Indian

Creek Christian Church on Sunday, March 6, 2016

from 2:00pm-5:00pm with services immediately

following.