Obituary of Keelia Portinga

Keelia Ann Portinga was born on August 12, 1995.  She passed away peacefully at home with her Daddy on February 23, 2019, at the young age of 23.  Though Keelia was non-verbal and non-ambulatory due to her Lissencephaly, she had a bubbly personality and her giggles were nothing short of infectious. Once that little girl started laughing EVERYBODY started laughing.   Her cute giggles and beautiful smile melted the hearts of everyone in her presence. Some people she met would say her smile made their day.  She loved music and dancing in her own special way and cheering her Daddy up when he was sad. She will be greatly missed by her parents, Jason Portinga and Karen von Reichmuth (Eduard von Reichmuth) and her sister, Christy Haugland.  In death Keelia has been reunited with her Grandma, Darlene Portinga, who passed away in 1985, and her brother, Thor von Reichmuth, who passed away in 2015.  Keelia was a daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, great-great-granddaughter, niece, and aunt.  If you think a woman whom had no way to communicate outright has no way to leave any kind of legacy, guess again.  Her smile was contagious and infected many.  That is her legacy.  Smile at a stranger and make their day and think of Keelia when you do it.  After all, as long as we remember her, she will live on.

Keelia’s family would like to thank her medical providers, especially Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and Kathy Boland P.C.A. 

Visitation at Cremation Society of Minnesota, 1979 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55119 on Monday, March 4, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m