Yaroslava (Yara) Faith Birkenfeld, 8 years old, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at her home in Nazareth, Texas. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth, Texas, with Celebrant Arokiaraj Samala, and Deacons Bob Birkenfeld and Joe Hochstein assisting. Rosary will be recited on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 9:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial to follow in Holy Family Cemetery in Nazareth under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt, Texas.

Yaroslava (Yara) Faith Birkenfeld was born in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 30, 2017. On April 13, 2021, her Mommy and Daddy adopted her and soon brought her home to Nazareth, Texas. She left us too soon to become a saint in Heaven on May 16, 2025, after suffering a catastrophic seizure; as a result of Angelman Syndrome. Ukraine's national flower is the bright and beautiful sunflower, and Yara brought that kind of brightness and beauty into the lives of everyone privileged to know her. She loved all things sweet, playing with the rocks on the playground, being bounced on the trampoline, and teasing her big sister, Ella, but most of all, she just loved being with all her family. They will never be the same without her and cling to the hope of being reunited with her in Heaven.

Yara was a first-grade student at Nazareth Public School. She absolutely loved her classmates, and they adored her. They were always doting on Yara and quick to help Ms. Amy or Ms. Mia whenever they needed help with Yara.

Those left to cherish Yara's memories are her parents, Melina (Braddock) Birkenfeld and Christopher Birkenfeld, and siblings, Ella, Ian, Bensen, Liberty, and Lila, all at home; her grandmothers, Lisa Braddock and Mildred Birkenfeld, both of Nazareth; her Godmothers, Alee Evers and Kristen Brewster, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Bruce Braddock and Carol Birkenfeld.

Please consider making a donation in Yara's name to Reece's Rainbow (reecesrainbow.org) in support of Special Needs adoptions. This organization was instrumental in Yara's life.

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org