Hannah Elizabeth Sickling

Hannah Elizabeth Sickling was born to Brandon and Taylor Sickling on Wednesday, March 20th at 3:13pm. She went to be with the Lord at 4:25pm, surrounded by her close family.

Hannah leaves behind numerous loved ones: parents, Brandon and Taylor Sickling (LaCenter, KY); siblings, Leah and Daniel Sickling (LaCenter, KY); grandparents, Mark and Kristin Sickling (Gilbertsville, KY), Mary Smith (LaCenter, KY), Hunter Raffety (Wyatt, MO); great-grandparents, Jim and Sylvia Brandon (Albany, GA), Oral Sickling (Calvert City, KY), Elott and Karen Raffety (Alfalfa Center, MO); aunts and uncles, Sarah Beth Sickling (Raleigh, NC), Nikki and Trey Cohen (Bloomfield, MO), Truman Raffety (Paducah, KY), Maggie Raffety (Murray, KY), and Steven Raffety (Tamms, IL).

Hannah was preceded in death by great-grandparents Frank and Mildred Smith (Wyatt, MO) and Letha Sickling (Calvert City, KY). She also joins two miscarried siblings in the arms of Jesus (2017 and 2023).

Hannah Elizabeth, or Hannah Beth as we so lovingly called her, was a snuggler like her big brother Daniel. She was always caught snuggled up against the placenta during our ultrasound appointments. She loved to wiggle and on multiple occasions we caught glimpses of her feet stretched over her head. Like her big sister Leah, she was quite the little gymnast. Third children are known to keep their parents on their toes and Hannah was no different. She kept us guessing as to when she would make her appearance; from the moment we received her diagnosis we wondered, could today be the day we meet her?

When March 20th finally came we had spent 31 weeks and 6 beautiful days with our daughter. In Hebrew, the name Hannah means “grace” and Elizabeth means “God’s promise.” When used together, Hannah Elizabeth means “God’s promise of grace.” We have felt His grace in increasing measure during these difficult days and trust that He will continue to sustain us in the days ahead.

While we wrestle with the pain of losing Hannah, we look to the birth of another baby for our hope. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humbled himself in the body of an infant and lived among us as a man. His sinless life, undeserved death, and triumphant resurrection give us hope in an eternity with Him. We know that the end of Hannah’s short life on this earth was only the beginning of an eternity in heaven with our Savior. We trust that one day we will see her again. Until then, we pray that her life would continue to be a testimony to the Lord and that others would find hope in Him.

A funeral service will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Cunningham, KY on Saturday, March 23rd at 2pm. Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery. Morrow Funeral Chapel in LaCenter, KY is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hannah’s memory to Abel Speaks, an organization that has supported the Sickling family and others like them as they choose to carry a child with a life-limiting diagnosis. You may give online at abelspeaks.org or by mail at 2001 W. Plano Pkwy Suite 1909, Plano, TX 75075.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.