Amanda Kay Adams-Siciliano

Amanda Kay Adams Siciliano touched so many lives in her career as an ER Trauma Unit and ICU Nurse. Dedicated to easing the suffering of others and helping the most vulnerable, Amanda was well respected in her field. She was known to have a steady hand, was a skilled part of the Vascular Access Team at the Children’s Hospital and was often called on to start IVs when others couldn’t. Her dedication and work ethic were apparent in the pursuit of her nursing degree. She was a single mother, balancing a full time job and nursing school, and still she graduated Magna Cum Laude. “She was passionate about helping people and she loved her job,” said her sister, Ashley.

Amanda’s biggest achievement, and the love of her life, was her daughter Kaylee. She was so very proud of Kaylee, her accomplishments, and her talent playing the violin. “She lived for her.” Amanda took Kaylee everywhere, and as a young child, taught her to appreciate good food. When other children wanted to go to McDonalds for a Happy Meal, Kaylee would ask to go to fancy restaurants and eat sushi. Amanda took her precious girl on adventures all over the US - to explore botanical gardens, tour museums and delight in amusement parks. Amanda enjoyed all amusement parks, but loved Disney’s Magic Kingdom most of all, and knew all of the park’s secrets. “No one loved an amusement park like she did. Mickey is going to miss her,” said her mom, Donna.

Amanda treasured her family and her friends. She was very conscientious about checking on everyone, and made it a point to let everyone know she was thinking of them. She regularly sent little notes and cards with personal messages to her nieces and nephews and all of her friends. “She let you know how much she loved and appreciated you,” said her best friend, John. Her sister said she put a lot of thought in to giving little gifts to family and friends. “She always wanted to make someone’s day,” said Ashley.

Amanda was very charismatic and liked to laugh and tell jokes, she was so very funny. She always entertained her nieces and nephews with little skits when they ate seafood. She would maneuver pincers and shells for crab claw puppets or talking clams, and narrate with little squeaky seafood voices, to keep the children laughing.

Amanda was an extremely talented photographer and was especially gifted at taking pictures of children. She loved her sister Ashley’s children like her own and took thousands of beautiful photos of them. Her daughter, Kaylee, “was photographed like she was the princess of Wales,” according to her mom, Donna. Along with photography, Amanda enjoyed scrapbooking and making photo books.

Although small in stature, Amanda lived large. “She was very energetic and on the go” said her sister. She even played roller derby for a short time before her health issues became invasive. After suffering for years with debilitating pain and disfiguring inflammation, Amanda was diagnosed with Hereditary Angioedema. She struggled with managing her chronic pain, and eventually had to stop her nursing career. She so appreciated her family and friends who stood by her in those difficult times.

In the last year or so, things were getting much better. It came as such a shock when a pulmonary embolism related to her disease claimed her life.

Born April 23, 1981 in Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth VA, Amanda passed away on August, 8, 2018. Left behind to cherish her memory are the love of her life, daughter Kaylee Ariana Adams, mother, Donna Moreno and stepfather Randolph Moreno, stepmother Mary Adams, sister Ashley Reifer and husband Ethan Reifer and their 6 children (Aurora, Lelind, Edwin, Everett, Lorelei and baby Adia), brother Alex Joseph Adams, Grandparents Patricia Dick, Barbara Bailey, William and Louise Moreno, aunt Susan Anderson and cousin Casey Anderson, and uncle David Adams. Preceded in Death by her father, Thomas L. Adams, grandfather Joseph W Bailey, and uncle Andy Bailey.

Rest in Peace, Sweet Amanda. “You are free now from the horrible blood disorder that took your life”, wrote her mother. Surely you are exploring all of the wonderful secrets in the most Magical Kingdom of all.