Annabelle “Annie” Helen Young was born on August 13, 2010 at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey weighing 8lbs, 7oz. From day one, Annie was a happy, healthy baby. As a curious and fearless toddler, Annie was captivated by her big brother Henry and she loved hanging out with “the big kids.” Annie’s fearlessness grew as she got older. When it came time to get on the school bus for the first day of Kindergarten, Annie marched right up the stairs, gave a quick wave to mom and dad and never looked back. Annie wasn’t shy or intimidated by anything. She had no problems meeting new friends at school, on the playground or at one of her brother’s hockey tournaments. She never hesitated to approach an kid to ask them to play or to strike up a conversation with a new adult. Wherever she was, Annie’s mission was to have fun. Sometimes, that meant getting messy, which Annie didn’t mind at all. Digging up worms in the backyard was a favorite pastime and it wasn’t rare to find her with food all over her face or in her platinum hair.

When Annie was 4 years old, her family adopted a Beagle-Terrier mix named Dodger from Home For Good Dogs in Berkeley Heights. Almost instantly, Dodger became Annie’s best friend, one she would run, play and snuggle with day and night. Everyone who knew Annie, knew about Dodger because Annie talked about him constantly to teachers, classmates, friends and neighbors. The two friends could often be seen playing dress up, dancing, playing school, playing cards or jumping in piles of leaves together. Dodger slept at the foot of Annie’s bed every night and he still sleeps there to this day.

Annie looked up to her big brother, Henry who was also one of her best friends. Henry and Annie would bicker like normal siblings, but they also had a strong bond formed through years of building forts, playing pretend, creating a ninja course outside and teaching Dodger new tricks. On Christmas morning, while Henry savored every minute, carefully unwrapping each gift, Annie tore through her pile like a tornado, unable to contain her enthusiasm and often yelping with joy. Annie’s cousins Vivienne and Clara were like sisters to her and she would practically burst with excitement when the family got together at the beach or lake in South Carolina. The four cousins would spend countless hours planning and performing talent shows for the family, swimming and playing in the water and filming “Epic Fails” on their iPads.

Annie’s short life was full of joy. She savored every minute, getting pleasure out of the simplest of life’s moments. She sang in the shower, skipped wherever she was going, played with her food and smiled almost all of the time. Shining like the brightest light in any room, Annie made friends wherever she went. Ultimately, she was surrounded by friends, classmates, teammates, teachers, coaches and neighbors who adored her and drank up her positive energy and thirst for fun.