FAYETTE — “Our Earthly Angel” Alyssa Elizabeth Burnell Righter, 4, of Fayette, earned her wings and now has flown home to be with Jesus in Heaven.

She was born Nov. 15, 2006, in Lewiston, the daughter of Christopher Burnell and Brandy Righter Robinson. Lyssie was diagnosed at 9 and one-half months old with a rare brain tumor called anaplastic ependymoma. She spent 7 and one half months at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland; she had four brain surgeries, three stomach surgeries, and underwent countless rounds of radiation and chemotherapies. Through it all, Lyssie was an example of how to live through so many trials and much suffering, but she never complained, she adapted to whatever situation she was faced with and almost always with a smile.

She loved people and she loved life; she lived everyday to the fullest, almost as if she knew her days were far too few. Lyssie knew no stranger. She loved her preschool, animals, especially dogs and sea animals, including dolphins and whales. Lyssie enjoyed being outside any time of the year, she loved the water and fishing. She always wanted to put the fish back in the lake almost faster than we could get them off the hook, but she still got such a joy every time she reeled one in on the end of her line. She loved going out on the lake in the ARGO and for rides on the trails.

She enjoyed time spent with family and friends, and was very quick to greet whoever was at the door, even the UPS guy. Most of all, she loved her brothers Issac, Jacob and Tyler Burnell. Lyssie was the light of our world. She made everything OK, even with everything that was going wrong. You could not be sad around her. Her spirit simply did not allow it. We were so blessed and honored to have her in our lives. Her sense of humor was amazing even as a baby, even before she could talk her expressions spoke volumes. That is why so many of the wonderful nurses at BBCH fell with her and remained in our lives.

She never knew defeat, and though she has now gone to heaven, it is she that has defeated cancer. She is now healed and whole. Lyssie’s life and death is a testament of the kind of person that she was. One I can only strive to be. She amazed me every single day.

Thank-you to so many who came together in our community, to help us at such a time when times were hard for all. You selflessly gave and did all you could, we thank-you very much. Because Lyssie had cancer, we came to know so many, she touched so many lives. Because of Lyssie’s love and zest for life, so many came to love her.

Thank-you all my cancer families for all your support, someone was always available any time of the day or night. We may never meet this side of Heaven, but we will meet one day. Thank-you Ellen McNeal, Megan Reed, Tina Bonnevie, Christine Fournier, the town of Fayette, Brenda, Mark, and Sue Harris, Make a Wish, BBCH, Paul and Gaby Fellman, Foster Tech and so many more. You’ll never know what your acts of kindness meant to us.

Lyssie is survived by her grandparents, who have raised and cared for her, Gary D. Righter (she called him Babe) and Cindy Righter (her mom-mom) of Fayette; her mother, Brandy Righter Robinson of Hebron; her father, Christopher Burnell of Sabattus; her brothers, Issac, Jacob and Tyler Burnell of Sabattus; her paternal grandparents, Doreen Burnell of Bowdoinham and George and Diana Burnell of Livermore Falls; and many cousins, aunts, uncles and close family friends.

If Lyssie could have done anything, she would have put others first. Please help honor her memory by spreading awareness. September is childhood cancer awareness month. The ribbon is gold. So wear gold for Lyssie, and help her cause, so that no one else has to leave their family because of this awful disease. Lyssie showed me many things in such a short time. She will never leave my thoughts and I will hold her in my heart always, I only wish it could be my arms, Alyssa gave so much, and asked for nothing. If I had to sum her up in one word it would simply be LOVE.

Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfuneralhome.com.