Amanda Marie Kappenman

Amanda Marie Kappenman, daughter, granddaughter, adored niece, cousin, auntie, and friend to many, lost her 18-month battle with cancer on May 22, 2024, only two weeks before her high school graduation.

Amanda was born on September 27, 2006 in Los Gatos, to Scott and Maurin Kappenman. Her father taught her to sing before his untimely death when she was only five. She faced many challenges growing up in a single parent household, but with a loving family she persevered, becoming a talented artist, singer and dancer. Amanda loved science and the outdoors and helped found Westmont High school's "Rooting for Earth" Ecology Club. She was also Co-Captain of their dance team and when her illness sidelined her, she helped choreograph her team's dance routines. She fought her cancer battle valiantly, enduring months of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and radiation treatments, all while keeping her grades up and earning acceptance to The University of Washington's Marine Biology program, where she'd hope to start this Fall. In March, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted her a Hawaii trip where she snorkeled, swam with dolphins and saw humpback whales breaching off the coast. We will miss her warm smile and enthusiasm for life.

Amanda is survived by her mother, Maurin Kappenman and partner Troy Freeman, her grandmother Mary Kappenman, Aunt and Uncle, Lori and Phil Carmena, cousins (her big sisters) Kerry Carmena and Kelsey (Austin) Stephens, and niece Laynee, along with her cat Willow.

Amanda's family is extremely grateful to the wonderful staff and medical teams at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Amanda's final resting place is the Memorial Tree Forest in the Santa Cruz mountains. Her Celebration of Life will be held in mid-July. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Greater Bay Area Chapter in Amanda's memory using this link: http://site.wish.org/goto/AmandaKappenman.