Adalyn "Ada" Rose Swenson

Adalyn “Ada” Rose Swenson, age 5, passed away on July 22nd, 2023 while being snuggled by her parents after a 14-month battle with leukemia. Ada stormed into this world on June 8th, 2018 to proud parents Joel and Tami (Clark) Swenson. She was always ready for rambunctious fun with her older brother Oliver and thrilled to dote on her baby sister Eleanor “Ellie”. Ada’s capacity to love others, curiosity, laughter, unrivaled desire to play, and feisty spunk were adored by her family, friends, daycare teachers, and the many medical professionals who knew her. She was a joy to be around. Although her time may have been short, her love and light will shine forever. 

Ada’s favorite activities included dressing up in costumes (one favorite was dressing like Santa and then asking adults and siblings to sit on her lap and tell her what they wanted), chasing her brother around, mothering her little sister, hiking, playing with water, doing science experiments with her big brother, and playing at the park. After Ada was diagnosed with cancer in 2022, she rarely lost her spirit and spunk. Spending hundreds of days in the hospital over the past year never got her down. She zoomed through the hospital hallways on her trike, always leaving a mess of slime, shaving cream and play-doh behind. During each hospital admission, the medical staff knew that their days were about to get more interesting. Her favorite place was by the nurses station where she’d snap photos of everyone, do “medical play”, draw, and chat with anyone on the medical team that was willing to listen (often asking more questions than anyone could keep up with). Her unwavering zest for life, drive and fearless independence has inspired all of us. Her huge personality will forever leave a hole in our hearts but also spark joy in our memories.

Ada is survived by her loving parents, Joel and Tami, her older brother, Oliver, and her younger sister, Eleanor “Ellie”. She is further survived by her grandparents (“Papa” and “Mayme”) Mark and Karen Swenson and Tim and Cheryl Clark; Great Grandparents Fern Swenson, Audrey and Elwyn Felker; aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by Great Grandfathers Calvin Swenson, Fredrick Epright, and Richard Clark and Great Grandmothers Bertha Epright and Marlene Hetzel.

A celebration of life will be held on August 13th, 2023 at the Waunakee Village Center in Ada's honor. Please join our family anytime between 1:30 and 4:30. We will have indoor and outdoor kids activities and photos to help us all remember her bright and beautiful life. In lieu of flowers please consider donating blood, signing up to be a bone marrow donor at https://bethematch.org/, or support the UW Kids Cancer Research Fund in her name here: http://give.wiscmedicine.org/AdaSwenson.

Cress Funeral Service

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI