Obituary of William "Will" Murray Rossi

William "Will" Murray Rossi of Edmonton, Alberta passed away on Friday, July 20, 2018, at the age of 10 years.

William Murray Rossi was born October 16th, 2007, the first-born child to loving parents; Morine Bolding Rossi and Pablo Rossi in Calgary, Alberta. Three days later he contracted bacterial meningitis. Will spent the next four months of his life living at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Going against all medical prognostications, he was released from Hospital in February of 2008. Will by name. Will power by nature. His family promised to celebrate the miracle they had and focus whatever time was left on surrounding Will with love, giving him as many experiences as possible and making every moment happy and pain free. For the next 18 months, Will and his parents stayed with Grandma Endang in New Norway, with Auntie Cathy and Uncle Josh in Edmonton, visited San Francisco and spent two months in Australia with Lela Dora and Tata Roberto. Will saw mountains, plains, rivers and oceans. 
In July 2009 the Rossi’s moved into their first home in Edmonton. Will started with the GRIT program at the age of three and during this time attended playschool at LaPerle, and Kindergarten at Aldergrove School. As Will was globally delayed, non-verbal and didn’t seek out attention, his parents feared that he would not be included. This was not the case, Will loved school and school loved Will. He showed the world that he was a strong and capable little boy, a standard bearer for inclusion. Will started at Grovenor School in 2012 and was about to begin grade 5 in September of 2018. He was adored by his peers and treated with kindness and respect. Will’s face always lit up when he saw his friends and teachers. He loved holding hands, pulling hair, flipping skirts, dancing, being read to and avoiding work by pretending to be asleep.  

In 2010 Will’s brother, Maximus was born and in 2012 his sister Isabella arrived. Together they traveled, played, laughed and cried. Will was always the rock, his warm, strong silence always speaking a thousand calming words. Will blessed his family with his Wish Trip to Disneyworld in the summer of 2016. 

Will loved swimming, music, roughhousing and playing with his friends.  He was everyone’s non-judgemental best friend. Will loved holding and snuggling his cousins as babies and messing with them as they got older. Whether it was bowling, sledding, skating, or camping, Will was always game for anything. He was a hero and inspiration to anyone he spent time with. Will was a miracle, a gift, and was deeply loved by his family and extended family.

William was predeceased by grandpa Murray Bolding in 1995. He will live forever in the hearts and memories of his mother Morine; father Pablo; brother Maximus and sister Isabella; Grandma Endang; Tata Roberto and Lela Dora; Auntie Cathy and Uncle Josh - cousins Sienna and Kiera; Uncle Christian and Auntie Kristen - cousins Cade, Siri, Bennett and Alina; Uncle Marcelo and Auntie Mercedes - cousins Nicolas and Christian from Sydney Australia.

A Funeral Service was held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 28, 2018, from St. Andrew's United Church (9915-148 St.) in Edmonton with Rev. Stuart Jackson officiating. Interment has taken place at the New Norway Cemetery.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the G.R.I.T. (Getting Ready for Inclusion Today) or to the Stollery Children's Hospital.