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Submitted: 9/18/23 • Approved: 9/19/23 • Last Updated: 9/22/23 • R275410-G275410-S3
Section 20
Rebekah Coeli Spader
December 19, 2005 – August 4, 2014
Rebekah Coeli Spader, 10, daughter of Tony and Stephanie Spader, died Thursday August 4, 2016 in Sioux Falls after a battle against leukemia. Funeral mass will be at 10:30am on Tuesday August 9, 2016 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 3:00-6:00 pm on Monday August 8th at the church followed by a Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 7:00pm. Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to First National Bank’s “Rebekah’s Memorial Fund”. This fund was set up because Rebekah’s heart has always been one of giving back and therefore the family is going to live out her legacy by paying it forward to different organizations that were special to Rebekah.
Rebekah was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday morning while she was surrounded by her family that loved her very much. She was so BRAVE despite the brokenness that had overwhelmed her frail body. She taught us all how to live life to the fullest, right up until her last breath! She never took any moment for granted and she sucked all there was to be had out of each moment of every day!
She lived her short 10 years here on earth making people smile, working her charm, and weaving her way into the hearts of so many. She had “a way” with people and she loved being social. Even right up until she was no longer able to attend, one of her favorite things was school. She never wanted to miss lunch or recess because of course that’s where she could be the most social! She was never able to attend school in the winter months because of the sheer amount of germs present, but even at that she managed to weasel her way into several teachers/therapists hearts that came to her home. Rebekah LOVED people and she LOVED life! You would always hear her say “I love you” as she was giving people a hug (she was often told that she was the “best hugger”) when saying good-bye. The love that came from this little girl was so sincere, radiant and contagious!
The motto that our family adopted early on in this journey was Broken. Brave. Blessed! Rebekah’s earthly journey was JUST that. Her body was Broken because of life’s unfortunate circumstances. She was continually Brave beyond her years as she fought through so many very difficult days, was unable to do so many things that others her age were doing, and battled a fight against so many odds. Yet, Rebekah KNEW she was BLESSED. She would be the first to list the many blessings in her life and so many of them being in existence JUST because she walked this broken path bravely! May we all live out her legacy by recognizing the opportunities we have to be Brave despite our Brokenness and ultimately knowing that we are Blessed!
We would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Weinacht (her primary care provider & God-mother) and Drs. Verneris and Sam who spent countless hours dedicated to Rebekah’s care and to Dr. Fenton who helped bring Rebekah into the world and helped with her care until the end. You all touched our lives because of the self-less compassion you showed Rebekah and our family! We are forever grateful!
In complete gratitude for having shared in her life are her parents: Tony & Stephanie Spader, brother, AJ, and sisters, Maasa, Catherine & Teresa; grandparents, Bill & Sue Peters, Sioux Falls, Duane and Elaine Spader, Sioux Falls; a special friend, Bridget Dahlin, Sioux Falls; aunts and uncles, John (Carol) Spader, Sioux Falls, Patty (Will) Edwards, Phoenix, AZ, David (Heather) Spader, Hallandale Beach, FL, Brian (Kelli) Spader, Sioux Falls, Mark (Jennifer) Spader, Sioux Falls, Ann Spader, Adelaide, Australia, Jason (Deanna) Peters, Sioux Falls; cousins, Micah Spader, Macy Spader, Josie and Jhaimann Huntington, Briggs Spader, Matthew and Julianna Peters.
Rebekah was preceded in death by her cousins, JP Peters and Jared Reisch.
Contributed on 9/18/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275410