Funeral Services For Wellesley Teen Ben Siedman on Thursday

Ben Alexander Siedman, 17, passed away Friday after a long battle with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

Funeral services will be held for Ben on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Wellesley Village Church, 2 Central St., Wellesley. A reception will be held after the service.

The Siedman family created the Sanfilippo Syndrome research foundation Ben’s Dream after Ben was diagnosed with the disorder at 15 months. It’s mission was to raise awareness and sponsor research toward a cure. Now, Ben’s family is asking mourners to donate to Ben’s Dream instead of bringing flowers to his memorial service on Thursday.

According to Ben’s mom Jennifer, Ben was a “robust, friendly and energetic child who dreamed of being a farmer with a barn full of mooing Holsteins. His eyes would light up on visits to a local farm when the cows would approach the fence to eagerly accept the carrots he clutched in his hand. Ben's favorite toys were tractors, books about the pastoral life and his constant stuffed companion, Milkshake.”

But the Sanfilippo Syndrome made simple things more difficult, however, it did not break Ben’s spirit.

According to his family, Ben "loved life, the comfort of a four-legged friend be it cow or dog, a good check against the boards, music, Chinese food and always, always holding hands. His laugh was infectious and his friendship unwavering. More than anything Ben’s joy was time with his family. He was loved fiercely by his grandparents, his 10 aunts and uncles and 13 cousins. His battle with Sanfilippo Syndrome taught everyone he touched the meaning of courage and the importance of living in the moment. Ben was only 17 but the impact he had on this world was far greater than his age; inspiring the creation of Ben’s Dream and ground-breaking gene therapy research that within a year will likely provide the cure Ben always dreamed of.”

Donations to Ben’s Dream may be made at: Sanfilippo Research Foundation, P.O. 81268, Wellesley, MA 02481. www.bensdream.org.