Adalyn Sylvia Shepard, age 9, of Savage, MN, passed away on July 1, 2024. A Time of Gathering will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 PM on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, and a Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM with additional gathering time from 9:00 – 10:45 AM on Thursday, July 11, 2024, all at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 N Berens Rd, Prior Lake, MN 55379. Pastor Dan Poffenberger will preside. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be distributed by the family in Adalyn’s name.
Please visit Adalyn’s CaringBridge for additional information and updates: https://new.caringbridge.org/site/e220f529-360a-11ef-9c3a-a1aa19ce4033 .
After a short illness, Addy earned her Angel Wings.
A beloved daughter, Addy was the apple of her daddy’s eye, and the mini-me of her mama. She inherited the best of both: humor, intelligence, compassion, and natural leadership. She adored her parents and brother Jaxson and made them proud every day.
A twin, Addy was the very best sister to her brother Jaxson. Their twin bond was real, personal, undeterred in devotion. They could feel each other’s emotions, love, pain, joy, and sorrow. Two beautiful peas in a pod; always connected, always together, supporting one another the way only twins can.
Addy had a special bond with animals. She was often observed hugging, snuggling, and napping with her pets Butch (Boxer), Sage (Husky), Charlotte, and Sylvia (cats). We know she was met by Lilah, Chloe, and Sage, beloved pets already crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
An athlete, Addy was heavily involved in community sports. Although she tried other sports, her true love was softball. A left-handed pitcher, she exuded Team Spirit and was loved and admired by her sports community. When she was injured earlier in the season, she changed her walk-up song to Pitbull Give Me Everything – “Give me everything tonight, for we all know we might not get tomorrow.” … Don’t forget that lyric.
Addy was also an amazingly devoted, and inclusive friend. She wasn’t fearless, but she always faced her fears head-on with a smile, and often showed others how to face their fears too. She wasn’t afraid to take chances, always jumping into things heart first. She was rough and tough with the boys, and gentle with the girls, bringing out the confidence of all. She gave her heart and her love unabashedly, without reserve, to all she met.
Addy loved the Arts. Music, especially Taylor Swift, got her little feet dancing every time. She was always singing too, in her room, in the shower, in the car. She loved making songs for her friends. She loved to draw, utilizing every color of the rainbow, and she was so good at it, a true Artist. Her hands were always busy. She loved to bake, design clothing and jewelry, solve puzzles, and color.
An avid reader, her mind was a sponge absorbing information well beyond her age. Her curiosity ran deep, she was open to everything this wide world has to offer. Wise beyond her 9 short years, to say that Addy was special is the greatest understatement.
Addy was kind, compassionate, smart, funny, and fierce. She exuded joy, thoughtfulness, elation, and occasionally mischief. Every time a photo was snapped, she would make a goofy face and always had to be asked to take second to show her brilliant smile.
Addy brought our family, our community closer. There are rare people in this world who impact our lives so deeply, so profoundly, we are forever changed by knowing them. Addy was one of these, her light impacted everyone who met her and thousands who never will.
Adayln will be missed by her loving parents, Dave and Angie Shepard; twin brother, Jaxson; grandparents, Cindy and Rick Shepard, Dave and Elaine Sonsteng, and Dawn Murphy; aunt, Erica “Kah” Shepard (Shawn Bachinski); uncle, Billy Shepard; cousin, Emma; godmother, Liza (John) Phu; godfather, Greg (Katie) Jensen; and many other loving aunts, uncles, cousins, family, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her grandma, Sylvia Sonsteng.
