Rayanna Rose Marrero

It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Rayanna Rose Marrero, a bubbly, happy eight year old who succumbed to complications from a Bone Marrow Transplant on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, surrounded by her devoted family.

Rayanna was born on November 25, 2003 at the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ and was a second grade student at the Delaware Township School. She was also a member of Girl Scout Troop #80482 where she recently became Queen of Cookie Sales by selling 355 boxes of cookies.

As Rayanna left the boundaries of Earth for her Heavenly glories, she sadly leaves behind her brave mother, Jennifer Miller Marrero and her equally brave brother, Geordan Marrero, both of Sergeantsville, NJ; her father, George Luis Marrero, Jr. of Kingwood Township, NJ; and her half-brothers, Gage and Gavin Marrero of Kingwood Township, NJ.

Rayanna fought the toughest of battles and has been rewarded with the Lord’s love and the freedom from pain and suffering. Our little hero is sadly missed but will be remembered in every Spring flower, every butterfly and every star in the sky. She was an example of courage and faith to many.

Rayanna leave a huge hole in the hearts of her maternal grandparents, Linda and David Swackhamer of Sergeantsville, NJ; her paternal grandmother, Judith Marrero of Lambertville, NJ; her paternal grandfather and his wife, George and Cheryl Marrero, Sr. of Lambertville, NJ; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, classmates and most especially by her uncle, Bryan Miller, who generously and lovingly gave her the second chance at life by donating stem cells for her transplant. It is also important to acknowledge Rayann’s grandfather and namesake, Raymond Miller, who died on April 5, 1976.

Funeral Services will take place Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Sergeantsville United Methodist Church, 622 Rosemont Ringoes Road, Sergeantsville, NJ under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be private. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

Memorial contributions may be made in Rayanna’s name to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065.

Fly high, beautiful girl, your strength, your beauty and your love are with us forever.