Samantha Claire Tibbitts

On March 28, 2021, after a tragic traffic accident and after having spread light on this earth one-thousand-eight-hundred-seventy days, Samantha Claire Tibbitts was taken Home to start the next phase of her existence in a place that is far better than this earth and includes her devoted older brother Oliver.

Her parents Bill and Jana and older sister Cassidy remain here, devastated and with shattered aching hearts. They cannot even begin to comprehend why they have been temporarily separated from yet another precious child who is a deeply loved and adored member of their forever family.

Just over five years ago Samantha Claire (a.k.a. Cassidy’s “Gamantha”, Oliver’s “the Man”, and her kitten-form name “Buttercup”) burst into this world healthy and full-term. She came home from the hospital weighing exactly four pounds. Much to the alarm of her parents and the amazement of Oliver and Cassidy, the next day Samantha pushed her right arm against the floor with all her might and managed to roll from her belly to her back. Throughout her short life she continued to be a mighty soul in a tiny body who loved fiercely.

When Samantha was seven months old and Oliver was ten years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. This was followed by separations, quarantines, masks, household disarray and an insane amount of uncertainty, tears, joy and miracles. Throughout the seventeen month cancer battle and up until her last day on this earth, Samantha thrived with the support of a village of nurturing grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, church members, neighbors, childcare and healthcare providers, teachers and friends who shared their time, talents and hearts with her and her family.

Samantha felt it perfectly acceptable to leave the house wearing ensembles such as galoshes, tutus, animal-eared headbands and mismatched socks, pants and/or shirts because she was confident she was beautiful regardless of what she wore. She never doubted that she was a child of God and proudly and often loudly proclaimed that she was a Princess of God. Her parents never doubted that for a minute and were grateful for the sweet and often very loud reminders that they were co-parenting with heavenly parents.

When Samantha was younger she was known for running to the front of the congregation of the Wilford Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and dancing enthusiastically when songs were sung by the choir. Last month she attended worship services in-person at the Wilford Ward for her very last time. Instead of singing a closing hymn, a rebroadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing “I Feel My Savior’s Love” was played. As soon as it started, Samantha bounced off the pew and with a mask and abandon began dancing in the aisle with a level of joy and intensity that compelled her parents to stay seated.

Samantha would often talk or sing about loving everyone but she had an exceptionally deep bond with her older sister, Cassidy. Samantha adored and admired Cassidy and Cassidy was deeply devoted to Samantha. Their special bond was strengthened during the isolation of the pandemic with the seemingly endless sleep-overs where they would wake up still entwined in each other’s arms and the hours and hours spent playing together, talking to each other and making joint visits to Samantha’s imaginary world. They would take turns reporting the other sister’s infractions to their parents and also saying, “She is my favorite person in the whole world!”

Samantha attended and loved everything about Eastside Preschool, except keeping her shoes on during nap time. Cassidy was thrilled when Samantha became old enough to enroll in the pre-kindergarten class at Summit Christian Academy, a spiritual and home base for both girls. Much to Cassidy’s delight and disapproval and as confirmed by her own shameless self-reports, Samantha was by far the naughtiest girl in her class. Her antics? Rolling around on the ground claiming to be “starveling” shortly before lunchtime and smuggling contraband stuffies and pokemons into her backpack for nap time.

Samantha strove to be a “Sweet Sweety” which to her meant to be genuinely kind. Samantha was notably quick to forgive big and small things. She truly loved everyone and routinely reassured family members and others that she would always love them “no matter what.” She often clarified that would still be the case in the event they chose to rob a bank or kill someone. She always said it in a way you knew she truly meant it.

Bill and Jana cannot even begin to comprehend God’s love for Samantha, Cassidy, Oliver and the rest of us, but they know it to be boundless, unfailing and real. They continue to have zero doubt that Samantha, Cassidy and Oliver are miracles and that each of their days on this earth were/are a gift. Bill and Jana continue to place their trust in God, His mercy, His plans and His many promises. Throughout their many years of unbelief and their now many years of imperfect faithfulness, God never once let them down. They have great hope and faith that He will not start letting them down now.

On Monday, April 5th at Summit Christian Academy, located at 4020 South 900 East in Millcreek, there will be a viewing at 5 p.m. followed by a short service at 6 p.m. All are welcome to join together to honor and celebrate Samantha’s life with prayers, songs, a balloon launch and pizza.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to Crossroads Urban Center to help end childhood homelessness: www.crossroadsurbancenter.org

Donations are also being accepted at Wells Fargo Banks in Samantha Tibbitts’s name and through Venmo at SHARON-LLOYD-3 to help move forward the Oliver-inspired Choose Kind/Operation Spread Sunshine Project.