Delaney was born on April 1st, 2003 to Marcie (Anthony) Bortolussi and Scott Van Ess, brother Parker, sister Marina, and grandparents Bonnie, Anthony Van Ess and Sharon Blaskis and is the beloved daughter of Roger and Tammy Rudi. Delaney attended Marion Crouse Instructional Center.
Anyone who’s met our family knows we have built our home on the notion that a person is more than the sum of their parts. That a debilitating medical condition only defines you as much as you let it, and Delaney exemplified that idea.
Despite being nonverbal, Delaney developed a clear, strong, and defined personality and was able to make her desires known in other ways. She was a bit of a diva princess actually. I’m pretty sure she thought she should have a limo service to and from school, instead of the standard school bus service. Delaney sure had a way with people; she had this smile that just infected anyone nearby with its glow. It lit up her whole face and had a way of making you feel like everything was right in the world, even just for that moment.
Delaney was a testament to humanities perseverance and its ability to overcome insurmountable odds. As cliché as it sounds, she taught us as much about life as we taught her. Her struggles gave us perspective about our own. Her physical limitations reminded us to appreciate those things that we all take for granted every day. Her inability to communicate verbally motivated us to express our gratitude for each other more often. The fragility of her life in general taught us the most basic, and yet unequivocally important, lesson I think a person can learn in this life: that this world is full of secret wonders and immeasurable beauty for anyone wise enough to just stop for a moment and notice. Delaney was one of those wonders, and we’ll miss her always.
Surviving are: parents Roger, Tammy Rudi; brothers, Mike (Carol) McGue (Lucian, Damian, Emma), Madison McGue, Maxwell, Myles, Montgomery and, Dreyden Rudi; sisters, Megan (Aaron) Nyholm (Mason, Gracelyn, Jackson), Brianna, Makayla, and Mercedes; Grandmother Dorothy Rudi; very special people Jessica (Devin) Wiinamaki (Finn).
Delaney was preceded in death by brothers: Jayden, Dylan, Monroe, Rylin; sisters: Mackenzie and Savannah. Grandfather Henry Rudi.
Special thank you to all the Ascension Hospice team especially Stephanie, Marge, Michelle, and Chaplain Hank Messing.
In lieu of flowers family is accepting donations at the funeral home which will help in the care of other disabled children.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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