In the arms of her parents, Lydia Ellen McKenzie, 3 year-old daughter of Eric and Paula S. Clarkson McKenzie of Waterford, passed away at her home on Sunday, September 5, 2010 after an 8-month battle with cancer. She was born a beautiful baby girl on June 3, 2007 in Erie and during her three short years of life grew to be a loving daughter, sister, and granddaughter.

McKenzie, Lydia EllenLydia had such an outgoing personality that anyone she met instantly became her best friend. She was an active young girl who enjoyed many outdoor activities including working in her own garden growing flowers and tomatoes, playing on her swing set and in her sandbox, and helping her Daddy on the tractor. She also spent many hours coloring and “making mail”, and watching “Max & Ruby” and other favorite movies.

Lydia loved her family which included her parents, Eric and Paula, and her little sister Jocelyn Lila McKenzie; her grandparents, Paul and Gwen Clarkson of Waterford and Lawrence and Carol McKenzie of Saegertown; her great-grandmothers, Lois Clarkson of Waterford and Ida Lou Fleischmann of Darlington, PA; her aunts and uncles, Garrett McKenzie of Cambridge Springs, Katie Lavery and her husband Terry of Girard, Clay Clarkson and his wife Molly of Cincinnati, OH, and Jacob Clarkson and his wife Anne of McKean; and also her three cousins, Brennan, Andrew, and Lila, and many special friends and neighbors.

Friends will be received at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Wednesday from 2:00pm until 9:00pm. Funeral services will be there on Thursday at 11:00am with the burial following at Mitchell Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House-Pittsburgh, or the John Kanzius Cancer Foundation.