Danielle Alain Ratliff

Betty Jean Sargeant, III, was born January, 8, 1976, in Roseburg, Oregon. She came to us, as a foster child, in the spring of 1979. She and her older brother, Dennis, had just been separated because they both needed so much. They had visitations with their biological parents for 2+ years, until their rights were terminated. John and I chose to adopt her and have her remain in our home. She was 6. We celebrated, changed her name to Danielle Alain Sinibaldi, and had her baptized. Her brother was adopted by his foster family, and we continued to get together to maintain that bond. In the spring of 1982, Cory came to our home at 5 1/2 months, and Danielle was in her element! She adored him always and was his entertainment.

Danielle loved Mommas and Grandmas. I watched her like a hawk because she would go with any woman, but it took 6 months for her to warm up to John. She struggled to recover from years of neglect. Her speech was often unintelligible and I translated for years. She challenged us, and her teachers, but she loved BIG! One of her IEP goals was to stop hugging teachers, as it had become obsessive. They had her hearing checked multiple times because Danielle was LOUD. In the car, it was deafening!

Danielle followed her own set of rules. We loved to visit Mariott's Great America, but if we went on a ride where her clothes got wet, she would get very upset. (This remained true throughout her life, as she never went anywhere without an umbrella!) We learned to have her wear her swimsuit under her clothes, so we could take them off for the ride. It was ok for her swimsuit to get wet! She charmed other visitors many times, and they gifted her stuffed animals! She was a cutie!

Danielle was in Girl Scouts, played the flute, volunteered at the library, enjoyed youth group, and attended schools in Roseburg and Salem. Christmas 1984, Danielle asked for a Cabbage Patch doll. Grandpa Phil and Grandma Joan waited in line for hours to win a chance to purchase one. They won! In 1985, she gained another brother, Adrian! Dominic followed in 1996, but Danielle had already moved out.

Danielle and Robert married July 24, 2010, with Uncle Richard officiating, and Aunt Janet playing the piano. Their song was Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing".

Danielle had an uncanny memory and would remind everyone of important events. She loved family dinners and was always the first to ask, "What are we doing for ______?"(Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas . . .), pushing me to make plans long before I was ready, much like today. John and I hadn't even made plans for our deaths, let alone hers. So here she is, pushing us to make commitments. We will join her at Belcrest, providing a gathering place for family in the future. We love you, Danielle.

Danielle is preceded in death by her grandparents, Paulette Sinibaldi, and Phil and Joan Rice. She is survived by her husband, Robert Ratliff, her parents, John and Christine Sinibaldi, 3 brothers, Cory, Adrian, and Dominic, 5 children, and many friends.