With heavy hearts and lots of love, we share the news that our dear daughter, Aydyn Elisa Rizzo, 18, from Thunder Bay, passed away on May 14, 2026. She fought cancer bravely but briefly.
Aydyn was born on December 10, 2007 to Tony and Janelle. Right from the start, she filled our lives with laughter and love. She went to Holy Cross, Bishop E. Q. Jennings, St. Ignatius High Schools and had just started following her dream in the Paramedic program at Confederation College.
She had such a lovely spirit and a smile that lit up any room. Aydyn was kind-hearted, funny, brave and loyal with a quiet self-assurance that helped her stay true to who she was. Whatever she tried her hand at, she did well. Growing up she loved gymnastics, dance and cheerleading. She especially enjoyed her time at camp on Sturgeon Bay and family trips to Lac des Mille Lacs where she fished, went tubing and swam with siblings and cousins. She also really valued moments spent with her boyfriend Thomas and his family fishing or ice fishing and just hanging out at their place.
You might have known her from working at Ardene or The Burger Barn or as a ski instructor at Mount Baldy where she shared her skills and cheered others on. Time with friends and family meant everything to her; those memories will always be close to us.
Aydyn is survived by her dad Tony (Kathy Zanni), mom Janelle (Neal Purdon), twin brother Rylan; sister Aya; stepbrothers Sam and Connor. Her grandparents Diane Rizzo; Gerald Blomquist (Marietta Blomquist); Elisa Blomquist (Paul Kytayko) will miss her dearly too as well as aunts Kayla Blomquist (Mark Niemi), Corey Blomquist (Yvonne Weleschuk), Nick Rizzo (Kathryn Duchnicky), Marissa Morgan (Perry Morgan); cousins Camryn, Madison, Austin, Sydney, Brayden and Macey. Her boyfriend Thomas Dudley along with many friends, classmates and coworkers also feel this loss deeply.
The family wants to say a big thank you to Drs Marchuk, Del Paggio Anthes Simpson Ward plus the whole ICU team of doctors & nurses-and Michael Power for all his hard work trying to get treatment options for Aydyn here in Canada & the US.
She was predeceased by baby sister Avery; Nonno Nicola Rizzo; great grandmother Rauha Maijala-all very special people who are now reunited with her in heart.
Though she wasn’t here long enough we’ll carry Aydyn’s love & kindness forever in our hearts.
There will be a Celebration of Life held Saturday May 23rd 2026 at Whitewater Golf Club from 1 pm until 4 pm with speeches starting around 2 pm.
If you want you can donate to Raising the Barr Charity https://raisingthebarrgolf. com/. Condolences can be left online at www. sargentandson. com.
“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever”
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