Ariane

This is a really hard post to write and I have been putting it off.  But I didn't feel like I could write about other things until I actually wrote about Ariane. I'm already in tears but I know getting this down on paper will help heal some of the sadness.  I will start by posting her obituary:

Angels known as Ariane’s precious family and friends circled round about her in love as she was sweetly welcomed home. Our beloved and beautiful Ariane  began her life in Alaska on March 7, 1977, and peacefully passed away after a valiant and courageous fight with cancer on March 17, 2013. Ariane was exceptional having been gifted with the purest of heart and sweetest of spirit. Her never-ending smile, always followed with a little giggle, lifted everyone. Her positive attitude was unequaled even up to her last days on this earth. She never complained. She was humble and private and with the help of her loving and devoted mother fought a great fight never allowing friends and family to know the extent of her struggle. Ariane saw the good in everyone and treated all with the utmost of kindness and respect. Ariane’s life was exceptionally rich. She surrounded herself with beauty and if it was pink, that made it all the better! Some of her greatest joys in life were the theater and ballet. Ariane loved to travel. Her work, as well as a desire for adventure took her to many exotic places around the world, but Disneyland was her favorite. She had a brilliant mind and was well educated graduating from BYU Hawaii with honors. Ariane loved books and reading and received her Master’s degree in Library Science from CUA in Washington, DC. After attending graduate school she fell in love with the east coast and all the excitement and interest it offered. Ariane grew up in Utah, but the Washington, DC area became her home. She enjoyed a wonderful life and had many great friends who loved and adored her.

Ariane is survived by her mother Connie Dunlavy; father William Dunlavy, brothers Paul (Alisha) Dunlavy, Sean (Heather) Dunlavy, and six nieces and nephews whom she adored: Leila, Greydon, Asher, Tamari, Mylee and Ezrie.

The family of Ariane wish to extend their love and appreciation to all of her exceptional caregivers which treated her with such kindness and dignity. Although Ariane’s time on earth was far too short, she deeply touched all who knew her. Aloha dearest Ariane, until we meet again. We love you!

Our dear sister Ariane began getting sick last summer.  She had numerous tests and scans and medications.  But she continued to be sick and was getting weaker.  In November she had a biopsy  of one of  her lymph nodes , we were expecting it to be Lymphoma but it came back squamous cell carcinoma.  They began searching for the primary source of the cancer but could not find it.  She was diagnosed with  stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary.  She had cancer in her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and pelvis.  They began chemotherapy treatment right after Thanksgiving.   Ariane fought hard with a positive outlook.  She continued to work and socialize like nothing had changed in her life.  The chemotherapy was tough and several times she ended up in the hospital because her blood counts were to low or she had a fever.  My mother-in-law Connie put her whole life on hold to go take care of Ariane.  This was a huge sacrifice for her but in the end became a huge blessing and chance to focus 100% on Ariane.  The last couple weeks of her life went so fast.  She had some bleeding complications and was in the hospital but then they thought they had her back on track and she was able to go home.  Unfortunately she was back at the hospital a day later and we quickly learned the cancer had spread to her brain.  Paul was able to fly out on Friday the 15th of March to be with Ariane, his mom, brother, Aunt Marilyn and cousins Shannon and Nannette. Although we didn't get the miracle we were hoping and praying for we did receive so many other little miracles and blessings.  The sweet blessings that Ariane and Connie received from a loving Bishop has brought great peace for our family.  Ariane passed away so peacefully on Sunday afternoon while she was surrounded by her family and close friends.  Paul told me that the afternoon was so wonderful and she passed away so perfectly.  Ariane was a true example of someone who was living a Christ like life. She was such a light to all those she came in contact with. We are so sad that we don't get to have her here on the earth with us anymore but so thankful for our knowledge of eternal families.  We as a family know that we need to strive even harder so that we can  be with Ariane again.  As hard as this has been I am also so grateful for the example she was to me, I'm  thankful for the opportunities it has given me to teach my children about eternal families and about the gospel.