Louisa Grace Findley (2014)

FINDLEY, SCHOENTHAL, DECARLO, SCHOENTHAL-CONDOR, SCHOENTHAL-MUSE, COX, HELTON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/27/2014 at 20:42:16

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
March 26, 2014

LOUISA GRACE FINDLEY, Des Moines, Iowa

Our Little Bird, Louisa, flew away home on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Now she is the angel we knew her to be in life.

Louisa was born on May 19, 1992, two months before she was expected, she stayed with us as long as she felt was necessary.

Louisa lived her life with amazing courage, patience and love. She was and continues to be a teacher to all who knew her. We will never fill the void of your passing from us, but will forever carry your inspiration and eternal presence in our hearts, prayers and meditations.

As a wee tot, Louisa attended the Day Care for Exceptional Children, and then inclusive classrooms at Des Moines Public Schools Early Education program at Findley School, Hillis Elementary, Callanan Jr. High and Ruby Van Meter. Louisa proudly graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 2011.

She was in community at the Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting where she was welcomed, embraced and held in the light.

Louisa loved music, dancing with her Daddy, horseback riding with her pony Louie, swimming, walks in the forest and at the beach, children’s laughter, reading books and travels in the car with the wind blowing in her hair.

Louisa is survived by her mother, Valerie (Schoenthal) Findley, father John J. Findley of St. Charles, other papa Stephen DeCarlo and her brothers and sisters, Soloman-Gabriel Schoenthal-Conder, Hannah Schoenthal-Muse (Jeffree), Noah Findley, Charlotte Findley (Jay), Kyla Cox (Bret), John Findley Jr. (Marina), Ramona Muse, Willy Muse, Susan Helton (David) and Angela DeCarlo (Adam) and Catherine Schoenthal-Muse.

She was the loving and cherished aunt and great-aunt of Ruby, Andy, Grace, Steve. Sal, Maxine, Kaitlin, Cazshmere, Nathan, Amanda, Maya, Makayla and Elijah.

Louisa was preceded in death by her big brother Jubal Schoenthal-Muse, her grandparents Grace and Val Schoenthal, Orville and Maxine Findley and special friend Tommy. We know they hold her gently now.

Our family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the many family members, friends, teachers, helpers and community members who nourished Louisa’s life with love and joy. We will never forget Dr. William Howard and all of the angels at Mercy Johnston Hospice for your compassion, loving kindness and care.

A Celebration of Life for Louisa will be held Sunday, June 22, at 4:00 pm at Walnut Woods State Park Lodge. The family will welcome all who have been touched by Louisa’s love and light. Louisa’s body has been cremated and will join family members in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Louisa Findley Playground Memorial at the EdCo Community Credit Union in Des Moines. This fund is created to provide resources and grants for installation of accessible playground equipment so that all children can play together in schools and community parks in central Iowa.