Gemma Marie Kaufman was born on Jan. 22, 2010, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Kurt and Rita (Schleck) Kaufman. An effervescent girl, Gemma radiated energy.

Gemma attend St. Rita’s School for the Deaf in Cincinnati and loved interacting with her classmates. At home, Gemma enjoyed playing in her toy kitchen, watching “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” playing with her younger brother, Vincent, and spending time with her daddy and mommy. Above all, Gemma loved hugs.

An accident on March 15 sent Gemma to the Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. With her family at her bedside, Gemma entered eternal life on Sunday, March 17, 2013. In addition to mommy, daddy and brother, survivors include grandparents, Joe and Linda Kaufman of Evansville, Ind., and Tom and Annie Schleck of Albert Lea; great-grandmother, Marion Schmidt of Shakopee; aunts, Susan (Tom) Trombley of St. Paul, Sarah Schleck (Richard Riedel) of Princeton, N.J.; cousins, Maggie, Eddie, Charlie, Frankie, Katie and Joey Trombley; as well as many other great-aunts and great-uncles.