Life of Austin YouTube sensation Adalia Rose Williams will be celebrated on Sunday

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
Adalia Rose Williams, center and her family Marcelo, left, Ryan, Emiliano, Natalia and Niko Pallante in 2018. Adalia Rose had a rare genetic disorder that causes premature aging. She died on Jan. 12.
Adalia Rose Williams, center and her family Marcelo, left, Ryan, Emiliano, Natalia and Niko Pallante in 2018. Adalia Rose had a rare genetic disorder that causes premature aging. She died on Jan. 12.

The life of Austin social media star Adalia Rose Williams will be celebrated on Sunday.

Adalia Rose was 15 when she died on Jan. 12, surrounded by her family. She had a rare genetic condition known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which causes premature aging. Most people with the syndrome die of heart disease at an average age of 14 and a half.

On her YouTube channel and Instagram account, Adalia Rose posted videos of her life, including makeup tips. She had almost 3 million YouTube subscribers and 475,000 Instagram followers.

While she grew up in Austin, her family had recently moved to San Antonio to be able to afford a house there.

Adalia Rose had recently taken a break after an illness that caused hearing loss, but she learned to lip read. In one of her last videos in November, she said, "I miss filming."

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A post shared by The Adalia Rose Show (@adalia06)

When she returned to filming and received a lifelike silicone doll, she told her viewers, "I'm so happy. I've been so stressed out."

Most of her videos ended with a "Thank you for watching" and a "I love you guys."

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress Ave. It also will be shown on her social media sites. The family is asking for social distancing because of COVID-19. Flowers and cards can be sent to the funeral home.

A Go Fund Me page to help the family with funeral expenses has raised more than $36,000.

More about Adalia Rose: 'She touched MILLIONS': YouTube sensation Adalia Rose, with rare genetic disease, dies at 15

In her obituary, her family wrote: "Few people have touched as many lives in so short a time as did Adalia Rose. ... her infectious laugh and beautiful smile transcended her struggles and brought strength to so many through her far reaching and authentic presence. Those that had the great fortune to know Adalia will always remember the feisty girl that loved so deeply and found joy in the smallest moments of life."

She is survived by mother Natalia, stepfather Ryan Pallante, father Adrien and stepmother Janae, and siblings Marcelo, Niko, Emiliano, Legend, Sidney and Gunner.

Her death sparked tens of thousands of comments on her social media sites: "Your light and love will live on forever," "She touched so many people with her amazing energy," "She was such a light in this world," "You were a bright spot on this earth," and "Thank you for being you and always inspiring."

From her obituary: "She dances, she cries, she laughs, and she loves, A girl so free, a true friend’s story so touching. To be in her presence is the feeling of a warm hug, To the world she’d say 'Thank you so much for watching.'"

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Life of Austin YouTube sensation Adalia Rose Williams celebrated on Sunday