Mallory Ryan McDanel was born with angel wings. She did not receive them on June 13
th 2016 upon her passing; Mallory was a congenital messenger from God. What defines brief? Often, it is said of a novel man or woman that their life spent on this earth was brief, comparing it to the history of life as we know it and eternity after that. So what would one say about Mallory’s 15 weeks and 6 days?
Pithy, terse, an aphorism. “One Love.” Mallory’s impact lives in the lessons she allowed those who knew her, if only through a computer screen, to auto-didactically process. These lessons are uniquely individualized by everyone, but stem from the purest form of life; the quintessential, non-conventional wisdom of love.
As a symbol of love, an icon of hope, and a denotation of faith, she broke down the fear of our own broken hearts. She invited people to feel. Compassion, Empathy, Admiration, Joy, Passion, Acceptance, Blessedness, Sympathy, Freedom, Peace; Mallory allowed all who knew her story to explore emotion rooted in love. All from a hospital bed in Strong Memorial Hospital. The ripple effect started as she dropped into the giant pond of life and moved outward from her parents. The momentum transformed ripples into waves through the dedicated nurses and doctors who cared for her, who instantly saw a peculiar baby girl. It was at this point that it was unstoppable within her grandparents, relatives and family, and broadcasted in mainstream media. It will always be unclear to how many lives Mallory touched.
Born to Ryan Douglas McDanel and Kimmie Hill McDanel of Orchard Street in Perry, NY on February 23rd, 2016, Mallory Ryan McDanel started her journey with a congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She came into this world with a single ventricle (half of a heart), but grew all of the hearts she touched ten-fold. Her legacy will remain in those hearts with a new zeal to treat every day as a blessing. Her pose of contentedness will serve as a reminder to our own humanness that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Her smile defeated fear. Her life will be remembered with a message: One Love.
Mallory passed in peace in the arms of her earthy mother and father. In Jubilation, one could confirm that life is not measured by the amount of breaths one takes, but by the moments that one’s breath is taken away. Her utopia was not what onlookers would consider bliss, but the quantity and quality of love for her was nothing short of a miracle. She continues to make us all think differently about life and experiential, unconditional love. Her message brought unity by breaking down walls of certainty and created a critical environment to think and feel. Her innocence and her dignity in death will create a place for new life and one love for us all.
She is survived by her loving parents, Ryan and Kimmie McDanel; paternal grandparents Doug and Jackie McDanel; paternal great grandparent Ann McDanel; maternal grandparents Larry and Karlene Hill; paternal uncle and aunt James and Megan Samaniego; paternal cousin Sage Samaniego; paternal aunt Caitlin McDanel; maternal uncle and aunt Josh and Kristin Campbell; maternal cousins Elizabeth and Clayton Campbell.
Meet Mallory at the calling hours to be held Saturday June 18th, 2016, from 2-4PM and 7-9PM at Eaton Watson Funeral Home, LLC. 98 N. Main St. Perry New York 14530. There will be an all-inclusive “One Love” Memorial Potluck Dinner Picnic Celebration of Mallory’s life at the Perry Public Park on Saturday June 25th, 2016 in the North Pavilion by the Tennis courts and pond starting at 12:00PM until indefinitely.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Heart Center Research 601 Elmwood Ave Box 631 Rochester, NY 14620. For more information please call (585) 237-2626 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.eatonwatsonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Eaton-Watson Funeral Home, LLC. 98 North Main Street Perry, New York 14530.
