09/26/2026
Obituary for the daughter of James and Sarah Durfey
In Loving Memory of Danielle Elysheva Grace Priebe
September 2, 2017 – September 21, 2026
Forever 9 • Forever Our Warrior
Our precious Danielle Elysheva Grace Priebe.. Our “DannieGrace” , age 9, passed peacefully at home in Aztec, New Mexico, on September 21, 2026, surrounded by family who loved her beyond measure. After a lifetime of fighting battles no child should ever have to fight, our beautiful warrior laid down her sword and went home to Heaven.
DannieGrace was only nine years old, but the impact she made on this world cannot be measured in years.
From the beginning, DannieGrace showed us what true strength looked like. She faced Alström syndrome and everything it brought into her life with a courage that continually amazed those around her. There were hospital rooms, medications, oxygen, difficult days, and challenges most people will never understand—but none of those things defined her.
Joy defined her. Love defined her. Dannie defined Dannie.
DannieGrace loved adventures with her family, swimming, dancing, side-by-side rides, watching Baby Bum and Cocomelon, and swinging on her special swing. She loved music, and even when her body became tired, she could still find a way to dance. Sometimes it was from her wheelchair, sometimes it was the movement of her hands, and sometimes it was simply the beautiful smile that spread across her face when her favorite song began to play.
She reminded us that dancing was never really about your feet.
It was about joy.
DannieGrace had a way of bringing people together. An entire community rallied around our girl and proudly became Team DannieGrace Strong. She taught people to love harder, pray bigger, appreciate the ordinary moments, and never take tomorrow for granted.
Some of our greatest memories are the simplest ones—holding her hand, hearing her laugh, watching her smile, taking her on adventures, seeing her surrounded by people who adored her, and witnessing the determination of a little girl who refused to let her circumstances steal the beautiful parts of life.
DannieGrace was a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, and warrior. She was stubborn and funny, sweet and determined, brave and incredibly loved. She changed our family forever, and there will never be another soul quite like hers.
As her disease progressed, her world became smaller and her body became more tired, but the love surrounding her only grew larger. Her family made a promise that whatever time remained would be filled with comfort, laughter, adventures, memories, music, and love.
And oh boy it was.
In her final days, DannieGrace was exactly where she belonged—at home, surrounded by the people who loved her most. On September 21, 2026, our beautiful girl peacefully left our arms.
We choose to believe that the body that limited her here limits her no longer.
No oxygen tubing.
No wheelchair.
No medications.
No pain.
No exhausted little heart.
Just Dannie.
Whole. Free. Talking And dancing.
Our hearts are shattered by the space she leaves behind, but what a privilege it was to be hers. Nine years could never have been enough, but we will spend the rest of our lives grateful that God trusted us with her.
DannieGrace’s story does not end with her death. It continues in every person who loved her, every life she touched, every act of kindness done in her memory, and every time someone chooses joy even when life is hard.
So when you hear a song that makes you want to move, turn it up.
When someone you love needs you, hold them a little tighter.
When life gives you a reason to sit down, remember the little girl who found a way to dance anyway.
And when you think of our beautiful DannieGrace, please don’t only remember the disease she fought.
Remember the warrior who lived.
Remember her smile.
Remember her joy.
Remember her love.
And above all—
Dance Like Dannie.
A memorial service celebrating DannieGrace’s beautiful life will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aztec, New Mexico, with Bishop Trevor Hatch officiating. A reception will follow the service. DannieGrace will be laid to rest privately with her family. Cope memorial funeral home is lovingly caring for DannieGrace
She is survived by her parents, Sarah and James Durfey and Stephen Benson; her siblings, Madison & Tristen, Samuel, Antonio & Clint, Joshua, Tyrel & Lexi , Shayli & Gabe, and her grandparents, Steven Szumlinski, Cheryl and Dusty Greenleaf, and McLean and Judy Durfey.
DannieGrace was also deeply loved by her aunts and uncles, Daniel and Jeana, Micah and Haylee, Farron and Jaylene, Sonya and Bill, Jannae and Neil, Abraham, Ashon, and Tabrah, along with numerous other loved ones, cousins, and an entire community that adored her.
She was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandfather, Daniel Szumlinski; her maternal great-grandparents, William and Betty Kirkland; and her uncles, EB and Eliyhu Priebe and Joshua Greenleaf.
DannieGrace’s pallbearers will be Samuel Priebe, Antonio Aragon, Tyrel Durfey, Tristen McNeal, Isaiah Szumlinski, Daniel Szumlinski, and Micah Szumlinski
Honorary Pallbearers will be James Durfey and Stephen Benson
Until we hold you again, sweet girl.
Team DannieGrace Strong. Forever.
