Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Sidler, Eli June 24, 2012
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    Published in Lebanon Daily News on June 28, 2012 
    CORNWALL Eli Sidler passed away on June 24, 2012, at the Hershey Medical 
    Center from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. As with every step of 
    the journey, his parents were by his side when he took his last breath and 
    passed peacefully. He was only 16 years old. Eli was born in Des Moines, Iowa, 
    on April 11, 1996. Diagnosed in 2004 when he was only eight, he fought hard 
    for almost half his life, enduring over 60 rounds of chemotherapy, many 
    radiation treatments and four surgeries to remove tumors from his spine. In 
    March, disease progression left him paralyzed from the waist down. But despite 
    all he went through, Eli almost never complained or asked "Why me?" He was our 
    true Chemowarrior, a title bestowed on him by his father early in his 
    treatment. Eli was an intelligent and loving boy, with a great sense of humor. 
    He enjoyed playing video games, horror movies, The Lord of the Rings, and all 
    types of swords and blades. His musical tastes ran the gamut from rap and 
    Marilyn Mason through Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Celtic music. He was 
    honest, witty and irreverent, a realist to the end. Eli's favorite place was 
    the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a location he got to visit seven times during 
    his short life. He liked nothing better than rolling around in the surf and 
    exploring the tide pools. He was planning to study marine biology had he been 
    given the chance. His favorite food was cheese and he loved dining at 
    Roburrito's in York, El Rodeo, Passage to India and Friendly's. Car picnics at 
    Taco Bell and McDonald's were a family tradition and he also enjoyed visiting 
    the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire every summer. Most recently a 10th grade 
    student at Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Eli attended the Susquehanna 
    Waldorf School from first through eighth grades. It was there that he attained 
    a sense of self and inner strength that saw him through many tough times. Eli 
    was also involved with THON, the Penn State student-run organization that 
    raises money for The Four Diamonds Fund. In addition to cancer research, this 
    Fund pays any uncovered medical expenses incurred by families whose children 
    with cancer are being treated at the Hershey Medical Center. His THON sponsor 
    organization was the Penn State Field Hockey Club and he found himself on the 
    receiving end of the attentions of many young ladies, something he enjoyed 
    quite a bit. In addition to his parents Bret and Susan Sidler of Cornwall, Eli 
    is survived by his grandparents, Robert and Irene Simko of Hershey, David and 
    Darlene Eckert of Mount Gretna and Louis and Carmen Sidler of Palmyra; his 
    great-grandmothr, Helen Simko of Annville; and many loving aunts, uncles and 
    cousins. His family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Hershey 
    Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for the 
    wonderful care he received. Eli's motto was "just live life," something he did 
    until his body became too tired to fight any more. He was an amazing young man 
    and he touched many people during his short life. His cremation was lovingly 
    handled by Kreamer Funeral Home in Annville. His family is planning an event 
    to honor his life that will be held later this summer.   To remember Eli, 
    donations in his name can be made to The Four Diamonds Fund,  Hershey, Pa.; or 
    Susquehanna Waldorf School, Marietta, Pa. 
     
    Published in Lebanon Daily News on June 28, 2012 
    
    
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