Inaya Wo Irizarry

Funeral Service for Inaya Wo Iyokipi Au Win Irizarry, 5 weeks old, will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Lake Traverse District Center, Browns Valley, Minnesota with Charles James, Lay Reader, Eric Jen Sr., Traditional Facilitator, Mikey Peters, Fr. Conrad Cecil and Deacon Bitsy Cecil officiating. Drum Group will be Toka Nuwan. Pall Bearers will be Wakinya Ska Eagleman, LaRon Keeble, Robert Irizarry III and Merrith Irizarry. Honorary Pallbearers will be All of Inaya's Family and Friends. There will be an All Night Wake service on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 starting at 7:00 P.M. at the Lake Traverse District Center, Browns Valley, MN.

Our sweet girl, Inaya Woiyokipi Au Win Irizarry, born on July 7, 2025, passed away on August 16, 2025. The daughter of Milena Irizarry and Hoksila Thompson, sister to Ayla Mni Wiyakpakpa Win. From the moment the ultrasound showed there were two, the twins were loved and celebrated by their adoring parents. Milena and Hoki supported each other and became family focused, attending all appointments together. They both remained dedicated to their employment and education, putting their earnings into turning Kunsi and Unkana's house into a nursery! As soon as the baby girls arrived, they became proud parents, giving their daughters their undivided attention. Inaya and Ayla only knew the comforts of love from the start. Inaya showed happiness in the most obvious of ways, as she was a smiler since birth. She loved to cuddle, nurse, nap, and grunt, and would scowl at Ayla while they were dual nursing! She brought smiles to everyone's faces and love to everyone's hearts, you could not help but to fall in love with her. Briefly following the news that Inaya returned to the spirit world, we were comforted with big sister Ayla suddenly smiling away in her sleep, which she was not formerly known for. Ayla has been smiling and gaining weight like little sister Chunky Butt ever since. In Inaya's short time with us, she has reminded us to enjoy and appreciate each other. Inaya was a gift living up to her Dakota name, Woiyokipi Au Win, bringing smiles, warmth, and happiness to our hearts forever.

Inaya is forever cherished by her parents, twin sister, grandparents Robert Irizarry, Siyo Peters, Melissa LaBlanc, Robyn White Thunder, Alicia Eagleman, Jaime White Thunder, Sugar Demarrias, Robert White Thunder Jr, Sleepy Eagleman, Waylon Cottier, Santana Peters, Maya (Cameron) Kwon and Rosa Bordeaux, great grandparents Pauline White Thunder, Jake Demarrias Jr, Mike (Lennie) Peters, Tim Peters, Buela (Roberta) Bordeaux, aunts KaijaSage Irizarry, Devina Goette, Xanthe Thompson, Briseis Brant, Emery Brant, Pilar Kwon and Solana Heinert, uncles Isaiah LaBlanc, Ashton LaBlanc, Nathaniel Blue, Talon Barse, Bobbie Irizarry, Merrith (Jadis) Wolf, Julian LaFontaine, Dante Peters, Timothy Peters-Johnson and Jr Brant, cousins Taven Sharpfish, Amy Sharpfish, Xavius Whipple, Lishh Wolf and many more family members that loved her dearly.

She is reunited in passing with her great great grandparents Vastana (Kitto) & LaRue James, Alice (Pumpkinseed) & Kenneth White Thunder, great grandparents Elena Rios, Robert White Thunder Sr, Sheila A James, and grandpa Elias Ortley.

"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you and all the things that you do." (Coldplay)

Too Soon by Mary Yarnall

This was a life that had hardly begun
No time to find your place in the sun
No time to do all you could have done
But we loved you enough for a lifetime

No time to enjoy the world and its wealth
No time to take life down off the shelf
No time to sing the songs of yourself
Though you had enough love for a lifetime

Those who live long endure sadness and tears
But you'll never suffer the sorrowing years
No betrayal, no anger, no hatred, no fears
Just love – Only love – In your lifetime.