Aidan Wardell, 15, of Pittston, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital, Wilkes-Barre. He was born in Pittston on December 2, 2005 and was the son of Carina Fortina and Robert Wardell.
Aidan was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish Church, Duryea. He was a ninth-grade freshman at Pittston Area High School. Aidan was a diehard Seattle Seahawks fan, and loved playing his video games and building with Legos.
Aidan had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is considered one of the most serious genetic diseases in children. He spent most of his life in a wheelchair. Aidan’s brother, Christopher, passed away of the same condition on June 26th, 2018.
Aidan and Christopher were extremely close and shared remarkably similar traits. Like Christopher, Aidan was happy and his condition never hindered him from living an engaged and joyous life. Aidan had the rare capacity to make others feel good and to lift their spirits. In many ways, those who encountered him were made better in having met him. He had the capacity to lift others to a higher ground. He was a bright light in a world so in need of hope, optimism, and inspiration. That said, Aidan missed the presence of his brother deeply.
Just days prior to Aidan’s passing, his mother observed Aidan smiling while he was sleeping and even heard some laughter. When he woke, she mentioned this to him. Aidan told her that he was dreaming about Christopher and that in the dream, they were having fun together in heaven. A dream such as this could only be understood in the context of the closeness that Aidan and Christopher shared in this lifetime and now—together. To envision them reunited grants comfort to those that knew and loved both Aidan and Christopher.
Every once in a while, someone is born and is meant to spend only a short time here. In such cases, the life lived—however brief—is lived so well that it has tremendous impact on everyone. It seems that Aidan was one such person. Only here for a short time, he had a great impact on so many—even strangers seemed to fall in love with him upon first meeting him. He was a rare treasure and he will be deeply missed.
In addition to his brother Christopher, he is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Florence Wardell.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Aliyah Gentner; his maternal grandparents, Karen and Eugene Fortini; uncle Eugene Fortini; his godfather and his wife Alice and Robert Fortini; his aunts Violet and Lisa Wardell; and uncles James and Jeffrey Wardell. Also surviving is his godmother Mary O’Brien Danaher and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1500 Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Funeral services will be privately held. Celebration of life services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are made by Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea.