East Hanover Girl, 5, Dies After 'Courageous' Cancer Battle

EAST HANOVER, NJ — Gabriella Grace Irene had "the best smile," which never wavered, even as she fought against cancer, her family said.

She was fearless. She died Friday at the age of 5 in her parents' arms after battling courageously against cancer for 11 months, her obituary said.

"This disease didn't give us a fair shot, but we fought and fought," her father Vito said on a GoFundMe page set up to help the family pay for chemotherapy treatments. "Gabby suffered so much and still found a way to stay strong, brave, and always kept a smile."

Whether it was playing at the park, going to Target with her mom, or snuggling with the whole family on rainy days, she made sure that every day was filled with fun and excitement.

She loved to learn and talked about school with her family and spent time on her tablet researching YouTube videos.

She is survived by her parents, Vito and Diane; older brother, Vito; maternal grandparents, Norberto and Maria Teixeira; paternal grandparents, Antonio and Adriana; uncle, Michael; godmother, Karissa Teixeira; paternal aunts, Angela Irene, Maria Irene, and Antoinetta Nina, and her husband, Juan; godfather, Rene Colon; cousins, Mila Teixeira, Anthony, Joseph, Valentino, and Emma Nina; and Rita Chaves.

Visitation with the family is Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. at Hancliffe Home for Funerals, 222 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover.

Funeral services will be Friday at noon at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark. Entombment will be at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The family asks visitation and funeral attendees to wear pink.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in her memory be made to The Valerie Fund at 2101 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, N.J. 07040 or online at thevaleriefund.org.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com