Kelli Danielle Si, aged 45 years, joined her Lord and Savior on October 22, 2024. She was born on August 29, 1979, in Adrian, Michigan, to Daniel VanValkenburg and Stacy Woerner. She was a proud resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and most recently Calabasas, California. She graduated from the University of Michigan and worked as a pediatric cardiac ICU nurse at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital before devoting all of her time to taking care of her young family. She is survived by her husband, Ming; their sons Jacob, Caleb, and Benjamin; a younger brother, Chad VanValkenburg; an older sister, Holli Clewis; a younger sister, Alaina Ellison; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Kelli was a devout Christian and brought brightness, comfort, and joy to those around her, whether it be family, friends, patients, or strangers. She held the regard of others ahead of her own, even in times of her own illness.
Kelli leaves us with:
“Well, I guess this is where my earthly journey ends, but what an incredible ride it has been! I’ve been blessed to raise my three amazing sons, even though this wasn’t part of the plan I had originally had in mind. God, however, had His own way of guiding me, and I wouldn’t trade a single moment I’ve spent with my family for anything. They have been my world – my biggest source of joy and purpose.”
“I found my faith strengthened at Grace Bible Church in Ann Abor and Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village. It has been my mission to share the love of Jesus with everyone around me. I hope I’ve inspired others to follow Him, to feel His grace as deeply as I have. ”
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned and want to pass on comes from Matthew 6:1-4:
‘When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’
‘Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.’
“Our good deeds should be a natural part of our daily lives, not grand, attention-seeking acts. It’s not about recognition from others – it’s about living a life that pleases God, where kindness and generosity for quietly and consistently.”
“My greatest treasures are the memories made with family and friends. From traveling to national parks, being in nature and around all of God’s animals, playing games with my mom and siblings, beach time with my nieces and nephews, and listening to my boys play with their cousins, those simple moments brought me more joy than words can express. I hope you all remember the good times, the laughter, and how much I loved each and every one of you.”
To my friends and family, thank you for standing by me, supporting me, and loving me through it all. Holli and Alaina, you’ve been my rocks – you always knew just what I needed even when I didn’t. Chad, please keep my plants alive, you have a gift for this-you need to share it with the world. Ming, I know I wasn’t always easy to love through the pain, but I’m so grateful for you. Thank you for your patience and for always fighting to keep me here, even when it was hard for me to let you. Please keep hugging our boys every day.”
“In my memory, please plant a tree or a rose bush instead of sending flowers. If you feel inclined, you can also contribute to finding a cure for metastatic breast cancer. Stage IV has no cure, but maybe one day, with enough support, we’ll change that.”
