Child obituary examples for inspiration

Ethan Thompson, 8, of Naperville, Illinois, died on February 6, 2026, at Lurie Children's Hospital after a 14-month battle with a brain tumor. He handled it better than any of the adults around him. Ethan was a third grader at Meadow Glens Elementary, where he was known for two things: his collection of rocks (organized by color and labeled with a Sharpie) and his willingness to sit next to the new kid at lunch. He loved dinosaurs, LEGO sets that were technically too advanced for his age, and his dog, Biscuit, who slept in his hospital room every night the last month. He wanted to be a paleontologist or a pizza chef. He hadn't decided yet. Ethan's parents, Michael and Sarah Thompson, want people to know that he was brave, but not in the way people use that word about sick kids. He was scared sometimes. He cried sometimes. The brave part was that he still asked about his friends, still wanted to hear jokes, and still made his nurses laugh. Ethan is survived by his parents, Michael and Sarah Thompson; his sister, Lily; his grandparents, Robert and Jean Thompson and David and Karen Walsh; and Biscuit. A celebration of Ethan's life will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Meadow Glens Elementary School gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Wear something with a dinosaur on it if you have it.

Aaliyah Johnson, 12, of Memphis, Tennessee, died on January 25, 2026, in an accident at school. She was in seventh grade, and she had just made the honor roll for the first time, and her family wants everyone to know that. Aaliyah was born in Memphis to Darius and Keisha Johnson. She attended Bellevue Middle School, where she ran cross-country, played clarinet in the school band (reluctantly), and had a group of friends who called themselves the Wolf Pack for reasons that made sense to twelve-year-olds. She loved drawing, especially anime characters. She filled 14 sketchbooks. Her art teacher said she had a real eye for expression, that her characters looked like they were actually feeling something. Aaliyah wanted to be a veterinarian. She volunteered at the Memphis Animal Shelter on Saturdays and came home smelling like dogs, which she considered a bonus. Aaliyah is survived by her parents, Darius and Keisha Johnson; her brother, Darius Jr.; her sister, Naomi; her grandparents, James and Dorothy Johnson and Robert and Lisa Williams; and the Wolf Pack. A celebration of Aaliyah's life will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Greater Imani Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memphis Animal Shelter in Aaliyah's name.

Lucas James Rivera, 5, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on February 10, 2026, at University Hospital. Lucas was born on August 14, 2020, in San Antonio to Eduardo and Maria Rivera. He was a kindergartner at Woodridge Elementary, where his teacher described him as the child who hugged everyone goodbye at the end of every day. Lucas loved superheroes, especially Spider-Man. He wore his Spider-Man costume so often it had to be replaced twice. He loved swimming at his grandparents' pool, eating pan dulce from the panaderia on Nogalitos Street, and following his older brother, Mateo, everywhere. He had a laugh that made everyone in the room laugh with him, even when they didn't know what was funny. Lucas is survived by his parents, Eduardo and Maria Rivera; his brother, Mateo; his sister, Sofia; his grandparents, Eduardo and Carmen Rivera and Jose and Angela Medina; and his many aunts, uncles, and cousins. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the pediatric ward at University Hospital. The family asks that you hug your children a little tighter today.