Samantha Rose Keating, a native and resident of Paulina, earned her angel wings on Saturday, February 25, 2017. She was 6 years old.

Samantha was a caring and loving child with a pure heart. She loved playing golf with her daddy, burying her golf balls in the bunkers mostly, and spending time playing with her friends and family. Samantha was a kindergarten student at St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina.

Samantha’s life may have seemed too short to many, especially given the circumstance in which it was taken, but those who knew her or were touched by her understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives.

Her bubbly personality and friendliness towards anyone and everyone despite whether they were already acquainted or not was just one of the qualities that made her such a unique child. She loved the colors purple, blue and pink and often could not decide which was her favorite when asked.

When she would build Lego sets, she always looked for her daddy to assist her, if necessary, but usually accomplished them on her own with a careful concentration. She was the type of child that always insisted on doing things for herself.

Samantha loved to sing and dance at any time whether or not others felt it was appropriate, and she often wore clothing that did not match, which included wearing her Frozen sandals and pink cat boots with anything and everything. Picking flowers for people, gathering rocks which she often described as “fossils,” and drawing pictures and cards were among the every day things that she “gifted” to others.

She lived life to its fullest and never worried about anything, which is probably the greatest single lesson that this little girl had for anyone. She would never want us to take anything or any moment for granted and to just be as happy about any situation no matter how upsetting, desperate or difficult it may seem.

She left so many people with the most wonderful memories and she will be carried around in their thoughts and hearts forever due to her extreme love of life.

Samantha is survived by her adoring parents, Anthony “Tony” Keating III and Natalie Meades Keating; grandparents Marlene and Flavious Meades III, Barbara Ruiz, and Anthony Gary Keating, Jr.; great grandparent Maudry Dupuy; uncle Benjamin Gendron (wife, Allana Molly); great Aunt Patty Dupuy; and numerous other loving family members.

Samantha was preceded in death by her great grandparents, John P. Dupuy, Flavious Josephus Meades, Jr. and Gary and Marion Keating.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 6 at Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales from 6 until 9 p.m.

Visitation will resume on Tuesday, March 7 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church from 9:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. celebrated by Fr. Jerry Martin.

Interment will follow at Serenity Oaks Memorial Park.

To offer condolences to the family, visit oursofh.com. Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales is in charge of arrangements.