Araceli Amalia Payan

In Loving Memory of Our Beautiful Daughter

Araceli “Ara” Payan

Surrounded by love, Araceli “Ara” Payan went on her greatest adventure, leaving this world to be with God in Heaven on December 10, 2025, at the age of 12.

Ara was born on January 28, 2013, in Aurora, Colorado, and lived in Commerce City, Colorado. She was a 7th-grade student at Discovery Magnet School. Although the quantity of her life was short, the quality of her life was tremendous.

Ara loved to travel with her family and was always excited for the next adventure. By the age of 12, she had traveled to several states across the United States, visiting important landmarks throughout the country. She also traveled internationally to Mexico, Belize, Honduras, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

Ara had a special love for all things Hello Kitty, even though she was not particularly fond of cats. Her heart, however, belonged to dogs, and she never met one she didn’t want to bring home. She was endlessly kind. Ara was the type of child who would spend her last penny to make someone smile. Her love for her family was boundless, and her hugs were the kind that wrapped you in comfort and stayed with you long after. Ara made a lasting impression on the lives of all who knew her. Without a doubt, she was the most loving and caring child this world could ask for.

Ara was full of joy, with a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for making others laugh and smile. She loved to sing and dance, and nearly every photo captures her silly spirit. We will forever miss singing and dancing alongside her. She lived a life of happiness and love that would rival that of a hundred-year-old. She deserved to experience so much more of what life has to offer, but God had different plans for our precious child.

Ara will forever live in our hearts, and our hearts will ache in her absence. We take comfort in knowing this is not goodbye, but until we meet again.

Ara will be lovingly remembered by her parents, Amalio and Christina Payan; her sisters, Ysabel, Noemi, and Nallely Payan; and her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.