Our beloved Leah Rae Darlington passed away at 40 years of age on Saturday, March 2, 2024, after courageously fighting gastrointestinal cancer for the past eighteen months.

Leah was born on May 1, 1983, in Eureka, to Frederick John Darlington and Jami Lynn (Baun) Darlington. They will always remember her as their smiling, happy-go-lucky, little girl with auburn pigtails who lit up their world with her open, genuine, loving heart.

She shared an unbreakable bond as the eldest sister to her brother Benjamin and sister Jennifer. Together, they formed an inseparable trio whose connection went far beyond siblinghood. They were not only family, but also each other’s best friends, confidants, and biggest champions. Their unconditional love and unwavering support for each other defined the true essence of companionship and solidarity as they navigated life knowing they had each other.

Leah’s greatest source of pride and fulfillment in life is her 15 year old daughter, Janaiyah Rae, who illuminated her world with boundless joy and love. Motherhood flowed effortlessly from Leah’s heart, and she cherished every moment watching her “cutest girl” grow into the confident, intelligent, outgoing, and talented young woman she has become. She also took immense joy in loudly cheering her daughter on at all her sport’s events. Janaiyah’s remarkable outlook is a testament to Leah’s own exceptional qualities of authenticity, warmth, and genuine openness. It reflects the nurturing environment Leah had cultivated, echoing the beauty and depth of Leah’s own soul. She savored every moment of her journey with Naiyah, filling it with unconditional love, laughter, and playful sarcasm.

In 2015, Leah met Alfate Cosey, whom she lovingly dubbed him “Fate.” A name that embodied their profound connection, depth of love and loyal companionship. An everlasting bond.

Spending time with her family was everything to Leah. She loved to cook and hostess dinners, holidays, as well as family and friend’s game nights with snacks and good ol’ sweet iced tea. She had a penchant for spontaneous road trips, shopping sprees and fun vacations with her sister and their children, and her brother and his family. Her most favorite place was the beach, which she termed her “happy place” where she could spend hours relaxing and enjoying the ocean breeze, the roar of the waves and watching the sun set. She also was known for, and loved, making the best espresso drinks at her home and sipping yummy coffee with loved ones and friends while enjoying nice, long chats. And if you knew Leah, you would know that they really were “nice, long chats”.

In addition to her cherished role as a devoted mother, Leah extended her nurturing embrace to the wider community by opening a daycare. Here, her boundless love for children became a beacon of hope and support for families seeking solace and assistance. Leah’s innate nurturing nature and genuine affection created a sanctuary of warmth and security, with her daycare quickly becoming a sought-after haven for families. Leah’s caring nature was most evident while, even in her suffering, she refused to close her daycare because of the love she had for the children and the close bond they shared.

Leah’s genuine interest in others caused people to immediately feel comfortable in just being themselves, which endeared her to all who knew her. A gathering with Leah was pure energy. Her sense of humor and quick-witted sarcasm, being the kind that made you laugh yourself out of your chair with tears streaming down your face, would leave her friends and loved ones with lasting memories of joy and camaraderie. She lived her life with an unwavering sincerity that touched the hearts of all who knew her. She meant every word she said, with no room for pretense — just pure, heartfelt honesty. Such sincerity was the cornerstone of her character, guiding her actions and words with genuine authenticity. Whether offering a word of encouragement, sharing a laugh, or lending a helping hand, Leah’s intentions were always clear and true. She approached every interaction with an open heart, and a listening ear, which left you feeling lighter and loved because you had been in her presence. In a world often filled with superficiality, Leah stood out as a beacon of sincerity and wholehearted living. Her words carried weight, her actions spoke volumes, and her presence left an indelible mark on all who crossed her path. She approached life with humor and grace, navigating its challenges with resilience and unwavering faith in God. Leah’s legacy of strength, humor, and wholehearted, authentic living — is a reminder to us all to live with open hearts filled with faith, love and laughter, inspiring others to embrace integrity and authenticity and to cherish the relationships that enrich our lives. To those fortunate enough to have known Leah, her absence leaves an immense void that can only be filled with cherished memories of her laughter, kindness, and unwavering strength and faith in the face of adversity. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her and had been touched with her genuine spirit and boundless love.

Leah is survived by her pride and joy, her beloved daughter, Janaiyah. Her father, Frederick (Karan) Darlington of Tidioute, PA. Her mother Jami (Baun) Darlington of Eureka, CA. Her devoted siblings; Her favorite and best brother, Benjamin F Darlington, his wife Karianne, and their sons Silas and Sterling. Her best friend and confidant, sister Jennifer R. Darlington and her son Kingsley. She will be dearly missed by her grandmother, Kathy Baun, and her aunts: Vicky (David) Baun Barry, Eureka, CA., Kelly (Garrett) Baun Douglass, Colville, WA., and Gale (Ray) Darlington Kocis, Sharpsville, PA. Her uncle: Douglas (Lori) Baun, Jackson Center, PA. Leah’s absence will be deeply felt by her many cousins and extended family members who shared in her love and cherished memories.

As a lifetime member of Eureka the Pentecostal Church, she very much loved and held in high regard Bishop and Pastor McDonald. She also developed a love for good ol’ gospel music which she turned to often when needing to soothe and uplift her spirit. She loved her entire church family, and was so humbly grateful for the outpouring of love and support that was shown to her and her family, throughout her journey. A special shout out to her lifelong friends for rallying together and organizing fundraisers, as well as many special, spur of the moment prayer meetings for Leah, that were willingly attended by so many and brought Leah so much comfort. It would make her day when they would stop by for a visit just to encourage her, razz her a bit and lovingly give her a hard time.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to her oncologist Dr. Walker and his nurse Julie, her oncology surgeon, Dr. Nakakura and all the hospital staff at UCSF. We also are so grateful for the “chemo nurses” and radiology nurses at Providence, St Joseph Hospital in Eureka who provided extraordinary care to Leah. Their unwavering commitment and compassion, akin to rolling out the red-carpet in-patient care, brought comfort and solace during a challenging time. We are deeply grateful for their professionalism, kindness, and unwavering support.

A huge thank you to family, friends and community for the overwhelming, heartwarming flow of messages, phone calls, meals, flowers and cards.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly request donations to support Leah’s 15-year-old daughter, Janaiyah. Contributions can be made to a fund set up for Janaiyah’s care at https://gofund.me/9b84c4e0 or via Venmo to her sister and guardian, @Jdarlington87. Your generosity will help provide for Janaiyah’s future and honor Leah’s memory in a meaningful way.

A special thank you to Mark Gilliam, Funeral Arranger at Humboldt Cremation & Funeral Services, for taking above and beyond care of our Leah. The kindness you showed while helping us to ensure Leah’s wishes were carried out was professionally and compassionately executed.

Please join us in honoring and celebrating the life of Leah Rae Darlington on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. The service will be held at Eureka The Pentecostal Church, located at 1060 Hoover Street, Eureka, CA.

Pudda, you will forever remain intertwined within the tapestry of our hearts. May you rest peacefully in the embrace of God’s eternal love until we meet again.