Sierra Norine Crittenden

After blessing us on this earth for 10 ½ months, Sierra Norine Crittenden passed away at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents, Kelton and Sara Crittenden, of Rexburg, Idaho, learned she would be born with a heart defect-hypoplastic left heart syndrome-at 28 weeks pregnant.

In Sierra’s short life, she underwent multiple surgeries and procedures. She was well known by hospital staff for her big cheeks and infectious smile and was oftentimes fought over for who got to be her nurse each day. Sierra always let people know how she felt with her sassy attitude and side-eye. She would cross her legs when the nurses tried to check her VAD, and hit people when they gave her meds, but she was quick to forgive them with a smile and would then do her comforting pose by rubbing her ear and head.

Her family loved to spend as much time as possible with her during her 321 days in the hospital. Sierra’s brother, Beau, age 6, loved the four times he got to meet her in person. The minute he touched her head, she would calm down. And every time he would video chat with her, she would instantly smile. Video chatting with grandparents was always a favorite time, and the smiles came immediately.

From the beginning, her red hair, eyebrows, and long eyelashes were frequently complimented. The tooth she was born with often surprised the nurses. Her family loved all the smiles and laughs together.

All are welcome to come and say goodbye to Sierra and offer their love and support to her family. Friends may visit family on Sunday, January 8, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South.

Information for the Idaho viewing will be updated once finalized.

In lieu of flowers, Sara and Kelton ask that a donation be made in honor of Sierra to the Ronald McDonald house of the Intermountain area. https://give.classy.org/Sierra