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Tessa Handerhan Of Chatham, 9, Was Filled With 'Kindness, Boundless Empathy'

Tessa Annabel Handerhan of Chatham died on Jan. 10 in the pediatric ICU of Morristown Medical Center. She was 9 years old.

Tessa Annabel Handerhan of Chatham died on Jan. 10 in the pediatric ICU of Morristown Medical Center. She was 9 years old.

Tessa Annabel Handerhan of Chatham died on Jan. 10 in the pediatric ICU of Morristown Medical Center. She was 9 years old.

Photo Credit: GOFUNDME

On Dec. 17, 2018, Tessa went into respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, according to a GoFundMe that raised more than $85,000 for her family.

Tessa attended Stanely Nursery School Washington Avenue School and Lafayette Avenue School, where she was in fourth grade.

She was remembered in her obituary as "an extremely smart, funny, and quirky girl whose empathy was boundless and whose heart was filled with goodness and kindness.

"She was a unique kid who always had a book in her hand and adored llamas, Shopkins, old cartoons, and her favorite color brown. Tessa enjoyed belting out songs at the top of her lungs, dance parties in the kitchen, and putting on various performances for her family."

Tessa is survived by her parents, Dan and Kate; brothers, Chad and Grant; four grandparents; three aunts; three uncles; six cousins and many loving friends.

Services were held Jan. 26.

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