Eden Kend, 10

LEE, Mass. — Eden Kend, 10, born on October 6, 2005, the daughter of Robert and Diane Fraser Kend and younger sister to Alyssa, passed suddenly on Sunday, June 26, 2016, while visiting her Aunt Laura and Uncle Nate Betz and their two daughters Carolyn and Jessica in Maryland.

Arriving merely hours earlier with her father, Eden collapsed during a game of flashlight tag. She could not be revived by her father or the immediate response from Howard County rescue personnel and police. After numerous attempts at the Howard County General Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department, Eden died of causes that are still unknown at this point.

Eden’s gift was her love of life. She brought joy and energy to everything and everyone she touched. An active and vibrant member of her fourth grade class at Great Barrington Rudolph Steiner School, she continued to grow into a beautiful and caring young girl.

Eden loved the beauty in every wonder that presented itself to her, whether it was an animal, mineral, plant, person or object. She was a truly creative soul that never ceased to amaze everyone in her too-short life, either by her artwork, baking and cooking skills, or her intelligence. She often built elaborate fairy houses of her own design using the natural elements all around her.

Eden’s amazing gift was an acute awareness of love and acceptance. She and that love will always be our guide through the rest of our journey and continue to teach us about the awesomeness of life, to live it, and most of all, to believe in yourself.

She leaves behind her parents Rob and Diane, her sister Alyssa, grandmother Dorothy Fraser, great-aAunt Myrna Baye, uncles Peter Kend, Nathan Betz, David Fraser, Daniel Sullivan and James Stasco, aunts Kate Kend, Laura Betz, Christine Fraser, Susan Sullivan, Tracy Mougin and Sandra Stasco, cousins Sydney and Sam Kend, Carolyn and Jessica Betz, Thomas and Meghan Fraser, Alan and Shane Sullivan, along with Alan's daughter Mallory, Andrew, Arin and Dale Stasco, and Amanda, Anna and MaryEmma Fraser. She also leaves her cat Bella, dog Lyla, guinea pigs Midnight and Oliver, and her five chickens.

She was predeceased by grandparents Elaine and David Kend, Joan Kend and Peter Fraser Sr., uncle Peter Fraser Jr. and great-aunt Connie Eisenstat.

Funeral notice: Visiting hours will be on Thursday, June 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee. A funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 5, at the First Congregational Church in Lee at 1 p.m. Cremation will follow.