Molly Maginnis Moynihan

Molly Maginnis Moynihan passed on December 1, 2025, surrounded by her family. Molly was born November 20, 2002, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Kris and Mike Moynihan. Molly spent her early years in Pennington, New Jersey, where she gained two sisters, enjoyed time with preschool friends, and spent summers going to the beach on Long Beach Island. At six years old, Molly and her family moved to Minnesota. As a kid, Molly enjoyed gymnastics, reading, camping, and hanging out with their friends and their sisters. Molly attended school at Five Hawks Elementary School, Twin Oaks Middle School, and graduated from Prior Lake High School in 2021, spending their senior year at Saint Paul College until graduating in 2022.

A year after graduating from high school, Molly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer often occurring in children and young adults. It is one of many underresearched childhood cancers that continue to rely on treatments established 40 years ago. Throughout her three-and-a-half-year journey, Molly endured countless surgeries including an amputation. Molly maintained an incredibly positive attitude even in the most difficult times, but privately she fought through the pain and distress of the disease and the gradual loss of a life before cancer. Molly's joy for life inspired those around her to be more present in their own lives and to treasure small moments. She was a young woman with more life left to live than options and believed that the current climate of cancer research defunding will result in more stolen lives. Through her fatigue and uncertainty about their own future, Molly remained unbroken. Her strength and perseverance through this time continues to amaze us all.

Molly was loved by all who met her, but her favorite group of people by far were kids. Children flocked to Molly and she was happy to give honest answers to their sensitive questions about her amputation, her wheelchair, and her hair loss. In return for her respectfulness toward them, Molly earned many admirers among children. Additionally, Molly remained an unflinching advocate for women and queer people, disability rights, and people whose voices are silenced or overlooked.

Molly's pets also meant the world to her. Scout, Percy, Charlie, Yellow, and Pebble were among her favorites. She had an incredibly special relationship with her beloved 15-yearold cat Yellow kitty who remained by Molly's side throughout their treatment, giving just the right amount of love, support, and snuggles.

Throughout treatment, Molly enjoyed spending time crafting, reading, trying to train the family dog, and spending time at home with family and her best friend Cindy. Home was Molly's happy place. She could be found playing board games or trivia with her family; spontaneously harmonizing songs with her sister Maggie; trying to get her youngest sister Maddy to read more (it worked!), while also bonding over psychological thrillers; listening to her favorite artist Adam Melchor; spending quality time in the car with her 'mama' on their way to treatment; and sharing stories about her day with her dad who she lovingly called 'father'.

Left behind to remember and learn from Molly's joyful energy is her mama Kris, father Mike, sisters Maggie and Maddy, her Aunya Kelly Hogan, treasured friend Cindy, her many pets including her dog Goose, grandparents Penny and Joe Hogan, Joyce and Gary Hanson, Kim and Steve Moynihan, uncles, aunts, and young cousins who she was so happy to have.

A special thank you to Journey Clinic at Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, especially Molly's care team who always made Molly feel special and well cared for. We owe a debt of gratitude to St. Croix Hospice and their round the clock care and to her nurse Bryar. Last but certainly not least, we wish to acknowledge the importance of Molly's online community and those who knew her by her handle @_happy_to_here_ including virtual friends who supported Molly's cancer-related TikTok videos; old friends who kept in touch; Tough Friends Art Club (@ohyouresotough) for providing an artistic outlet; and MIB Agents Osteosarcoma Alliance (@mib.agents) and Rein in Sarcoma (@reininsarcoma) for supporting patients and families. To all the warriors we met at the advocacy and research gathering 'FACTOR' in Salt Lake City who are still fighting, we send so much love and hope and gratitude for the friendship each of you provided Molly. To those who have passed from this terrible disease, we remember and honor you.

Molly, we will see you in the hummingbirds that visit in the summer; in the mourning doves we hear through the window; in the bright leaves that fall in autumn; in the soft ocean waves and warm sand when we visit the beach; and in every sunflower we encounter. We will be surrounded by your light and love always. A celebration of life will take place in the spring and updates will be posted on the following Instagram pages: @_happy_to_here_, @percymmm, and @silvermoon717.