Alia Violet Reber Obituary (2002 - 2018)

Alia Violet Reber, 16, was born on 8 January 2002 in Layton, Utah to Jared and Suzanne Reber. Alia danced her way to heaven on 29 July 2018, in her parent's arms. Alia showed courage, tenacity and gentle poise as she fought to live life on her terms, each day of her life. Life was complicated by substantial medical challenges: a rare genetic syndrome required a tracheotomy from birth, the need for a ventilator whenever asleep, and nightly in-home nursing care. Alia braved scores of intensive care visits, three Life Flight rides and multiple surgeries during her life. While she hated IVs she loved many familiar staff at Primary Children's Hospital. Alia communicated by sign language and refused to be defined by her challenges. Alia loved service. She showed concern for other sick and disabled kids, sponsored carnival fundraisers and the Make-A-Wish foundation's Ducky Derby. Her life was blessed by many events held by Hope Kids and the Mascot Miracle Foundation, especially anything with music, dancing or both! In 2010 Alia recovered from what appeared to be an irreparable, aggressive bacterial infection following a 2009 Make-A-Wish trip. She lived the rest of her life with only one lung. Alia loved her nurses, teachers, aides and impacted her fellow students daily. She pushed up the corners of her mouth to create her own smile despite lifelong facial paralysis. She loved feeding the fish, the playground "spinny toy" at West Point Elementary, and working the Snack Shack at West Point Junior High. Strangers would often notice her in public and sense her strength, warrior-spirit, and feisty desire to live her best life. She loved anything to do with the ocean, fairytale princesses, loud music, dancing for as long as her body would allow and family time. She travelled to Hawaii, the Redwoods, Yellowstone, St. George and Utah national parks. Holidays were all deeply enjoyed by Alia, especially Christmas; Easter, participating in many egg hunts; and Halloween, where she was always on the hunt for Kit-Kats. She deeply enjoyed musicals, theater productions, and anything Disney/Pixar. She loved girls-only shopping and car rides with her mother and painting and laptop computer time with her father. She loved playing iPad games and watching silly videos with younger brother Tai, and always looked up to older brother Landon. Grandparents Mark and Mary Lou Sessions and Sue Fielding Reber, great-grandparents Marlene and Bob Beil and Ann Sessions were her loving protectors and frequent buddies. She loved crafts, games, reading books, tea parties, flipping through family pictures on cell phones, and asked about and remembered the names of the children of her home health nurses. Everynight was a movie sleepover party. Alia's nurses were and are family. Alia deeply loved Sundays, going to church services, and her Sunday School & Young Women classes, where her dad would act as her ASL voice. She believed in and had a special relationship with Jesus Christ. As Alia's health declined her Grandma Mary would watch gospel videos with her each Sunday. A day before she left this life she joked with many loved ones, created laughter, showcased her tremendous moxie, sense of humor, and unending love of hearing her sweet mother read fairytale princess books. She chatted by phone with her beloved "Joseph" (Donny Osmond), on her 16th birthday and also about 8 hours before she moved on. She went out of her way to make sweet memories with many loved ones before turning the page to her next chapter. Alia was a messenger of bravery, kindness, and hope for all, that with hard work we can make the best out of anything life throws at us. Alia was preceded in death by Grandfather Brent Reber, Great-Grandparents Dean Sessions, Ralph Eyster, Elaine & Don Reber, and Grace & Fay Fielding. A public viewing will be held Thursday, August 2nd from 6 to 8 pm and Friday, August 3rd from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Services will then be at 2 pm. All will be held at the LDS Ward at 300 N 3500 W West Point, UT. VisitationWest Point Ward 300 N 3500 W West Point , Utah 84067 August 3, 2018 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ServiceWest Point Ward 300 N 3500 W West Point , Utah 84067 August 3, 2018 BurialWest Point Cemetery 40 N 4000 W West Point , Utah 84067 August 3, 2018