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The Long Island community is mourning the loss of a St. Anthony’s High School sophomore who died just a week after receiving a cancer diagnosis accompanied by liver failure.
Haley Ashana Singh — remembered as a kind and radiant presence by friends, teachers and family — passed away on Monday, Oct. 6, surrounded by loved ones following her diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and severe liver failure, according to a GoFundMe page established in her memory.
Haley’s mother, Shridevi Singh, a breast surgical oncologist at The Cancer Institute at Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, raised Haley as a single parent while completing medical school and her residency. Friends said the two shared an unbreakable bond.
“I remember vividly when Haley was about a month old, Shridevi brought her to our college lab and I got to hold her,” wrote Tamara Goodman, a longtime colleague of Shridevi Singh. “She was such a beautiful baby and it has been such a privilege to watch her grow into a beautiful young lady over the years.”
At St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, school leaders lamented over Haley’s death as a profound loss to the entire “Friar Family.”
“Today we mourn as a school community and remember the lasting impact Haley will have on her classmates, her teachers and the entire Friar Family,” the high school said in a statement. “Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.”
Remembered for her ‘light’ and ‘spirit’
Her former school, St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa, also shared a tribute, calling Haley a “beloved member of our community” whose “light and spirit” will never be forgotten.
Hundreds of classmates, friends and neighbors have contributed to the GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $23,000 to support Haley’s family and benefit organizations in her name, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
“Haley’s strength, kindness, and bright spirit touched everyone who knew her,” wrote Dylana Suarez and Kelly Banasiak, organizers of the GoFundMe effort. “She faced every challenge with grace beyond her years and inspired an entire community with her bravery.”
Haley’s great-grandmother, known to her as “Gigi,” left a moving tribute on her obituary page.
“You filled my heart with love and laughter from the moment I met you,” she wrote. “You will always be my oldest great-grand, just as you always said with that sweet smile. My heart aches for you, my precious Haley, but your light will live on in every memory we shared.”
Services for Haley
Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Massapequa Funeral Home – South Chapel, 4980 Merrick Road in Massapequa Park. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10:15 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 2 Bayview Ave. in Massapequa.
Top photos: GoFundMe and St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa.
