Obituary: Finley Rhia Maguire, 23 months, of Milford

MILFORD, CT - (From Cody-White Funeral Home) Finley Rhia Maguire, 23 months (just 13 days shy of her 2nd birthday), of Milford, passed away on May 12, 2021 at Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital after a 4&1/2 month courageous battle with metastatic Medulloblastoma.

Finley, lovingly known by most as “Finnie,” was born on May 25, 2019 in New Haven, she was the cherished daughter of Philip and Melanie (Walter) Maguire.

How can I write an obituary for our baby? A sweet, innocent and perfect baby girl, a true light in this dark world... who up until 19 months of age was a healthy and happy little girl. With her plump lips (lips for days as I used to call them), perfect set of teeth, big brown eyes, button nose, chubby hands, wrists, cheeks and legs, and perfectly round head.

Her smile and giggle were like no other, and her little voice that she was just learning to use was as sweet a sound as I have ever heard. She would say “love you” right back to our, “I love you Finnie”! Finley was a climber; you would often find her on top of her play kitchen or the dining room table. She would carry around a little stool or bucket that she would use to climb up on high areas... or to reach whatever it was she wanted off the counter.

She was the best cuddler and the best hugger, and she would pucker up those amazing lips for a kiss anytime. She loved to sing songs (baby shark, baa baa black sheep and wheels on the bus were some of her favorites), move her chubby fingers and arms to the baby shark song and clap her chubby little hands when you-tubes coco melon came on the screen.

Finnie loved to play with all of her older sisters toys (baby toys just wouldn’t do!), push baby dolls in a stroller, ride her scooter around the kitchen or any of the ride on toys (especially if they made a lot of noise), cook us a meal in her play kitchen, empty the Tupperware cabinet, and demand we change the show on TV over and over again because she never seemed to settle on an episode she liked, but since she couldn’t talk much yet, she would give a grunt and hand you the remote.

She loved to play in the sand at the beach, but wasn’t a big fan of the ocean. However, in the tub she would play for as long as you let her, and dump as much water out of the tub as possible, that’s if she wasn’t drinking it first. She also loved to swim in the pool with us, and held us as tight as she could to feel safe.

Finley wasn’t a big fan of the snow, she only experienced one real snowfall this December, but didn’t seem to like the cold or the sledding... so she and I stayed inside and warm. She loved donuts, especially the frosting, didn’t matter if it was chocolate, vanilla or strawberry, sprinkles or no sprinkles... she would eat until her face was covered in frosting. Finnie was an avid fan of Frozen, and loved to sing along to “Let it go” and yell “Elsa!”

She loved to go to “school” at Gingerbread House, and loved all her teachers and friends there. She never met a bounce house or trampoline she didn’t want to jump on, or a bucket or box she didn’t insist on climbing into, just to sit. We dabbled in swim lessons and “mommy & me” gymnastics ... she loved both, and would probably love just about any activity we signed her up for. Finnie loved to drive in daddy’s Jeep, with the top down, and wind on her little face... always all smiles, giggles and happiness.

She was the most chill, easygoing sister... when playing with her cousins she would just tag along, and was just so easy and sweet. She did not care to sleep, sleeping was not one her favorite things to do. She didn’t like to fall or stay asleep, and would happily stand and wait for us to take her out of her crib. She never went to sleep without a “kiss, hug and a pet” from Teagan.

When she would see us, whether it was after a few hours, or a shorter time, or after a long work shift ... she would run at us with her arms up for a big hug and kiss with a massive toothy smile on her face.

Finley had all kinds of nicknames besides Finnie, “Fin,” “Finnie Rheeeeee,” & “Fincheska.” To name a few. And, for some reason we started calling her bottle a baba-doooey... how she loved her bottles.

Finley has two older sisters (Peyton, 11 and Teagan, 3) whom she adored (the adoration was mutual), and would constantly dress in matching attire. They were her BFFs, the best sister crew.

She has four grandparents (George & Maria Walter of Milford and Philip & Benedetta Maguire of Fairfield)... as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins who love and will miss her tremendously.
Friends and family are invited to attend a walk-through wake from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad St., Milford, CT.

Masks and social distancing will be required. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Finley’s name to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee at www.stjude.org.