Lindsey Marie Philaya

Lindsey Marie Philaya, age 24, died by suicide on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in Woodbury, Minnesota after a long battle with mental illness: anxiety, depression and addiction. She has been welcomed into heaven free of all earthly burdens by Jesus, her Savior as well as family and friends.

Lindsey was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, on December 18, 1992 to Charity VanBerkel. Charity made a loving adoption plan through Bethany Christian Services and Lindsey came home to Luther and Tara Philaya and their daughter, Kristina.

Lindsey absolutely loved animals; in her words "more than people". She was caring, witty, smart, loving, fun, generous and kind. Starting at age 6 she played drums on a worship team at Bethel Church and played basketball, soccer and softball at Princeton High School where she graduated in 2011. Lindsey will be missed by family and many friends.

Lindsey is survived by her mother, Tara Weldon and her husband Brian of Milaca, MN; father, Luther Philaya and his wife Dawn of Woodbury, MN; sister, Kristina Philaya and her son Jackson of St. Cloud, MN; birthmother, Charity Paseki and her husband Mike of Paso Robles, CA; birth grandmother, Vel Flory and her husband Abe of Paso Robles, CA; birth grandfather, Gene VanBerkel and his wife Bev of Sioux Center, IA; beloved cat, Marvin.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, LeRoy and Sylvia Philaya and grandmother, Rhoda Gene Kennedy as well as her beloved dog, Rajah and cat, Finnegan.

A celebration of life service will be held Friday, August 25, 2017 at 11:00 am at Bethel Church in Princeton, MN.
In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, donations can be made in memory of Lindsey to one of the following:

A� Facing Addiction www.facingaddition.org
A� MN Chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness www.namihelps.org/donate
A� Facing Addiction www.facingaddition.org
A� PRIDE Institute www.pride-institute.com
A� Humane Society www.animalhumanesociety.org
A� Your local church