Destiny Arianna Kay Riekeberg

Destiny Arianna Kay Riekeberg gained her angel wings peacefully and gracefully at 7:07pm on September 17, 2020 in the arms of her Father, after an 8 month battle with a rare liver cancer. Destiny, also known as “Desto” to many, was born on January 22, 2011 in Nashville, TN. Destiny was 9 years old, a 4th grader at Pelham Ridge Elementary School and the daughter of Lacretia Riekeberg and Dustin Riekeberg. To know her is to love her. With great sass, beauty, wit, talent, and intelligence, Destiny was absolutely one of a kind and marched to the beat of her own drum. She left her mark and a little sparkle where ever she went. There will never be any other like her. Before her battle with cancer, Destiny was a thriving, healthy athletic little girl. She excelled in her favorite activities competition dance, cheerleading, softball, and beauty pageants to name a few. We as parents never had to push our child to be the best. It was a part of her DNA. She gave 100% in any and everything she set out to do, including battling cancer. We couldn’t be more proud of her.

Cancer tried to steal everything from Destiny, but it couldn’t steal the true essence of who Destiny was. She overcame every obstacle that was put before her early on in her cancer journey, and doctors said she was a miracle. But we couldn’t prepare ourselves for the ultimate beauty of Destiny’s cancer journey. She battled this journey with such beauty and grace and with such incredible Faith in Jesus Christ which helped her to fight. As her journey spread far and wide across the nation and the world, peoples’ lives were ultimately changed. This was the ultimate compliment that we as her parents could have ever asked for. She was our princess warrior and very strong throughout her fight and now is our beautiful guardian angel in heaven. Destiny’s spirit will live on in the thousands of lives that she’s touched. And her parents will continue to carry on her Legacy.

Destiny is survived by her parents, Dustin Riekeberg and Lacretia Riekeberg of Pelham, AL. Her grandparents, Freda Mack of Decatur, AL. Derald Riekeberg, and Toni Riekeberg of Macon Missouri. Her great Grandmother, Gloria Jones of Decatur, AL, Her Aunt Lavern Orr and Uncle Billy Orr of Hartselle, AL, Her Aunt Ella Cowley and Oscar Cowley of Decatur, AL, Her Aunt Candace Cowley of Decatur, AL, Her uncle Josh Orr, of Athens, AL, Her Aunt Amber Kaden and Uncle Lance Kaden of Lake St. Louis Missouri, and her Uncle Chris Riekeberg of Macon, MO and a whole host of cousins, friends and extended family.

Visitation will be held at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A celebration of Destiny's life will begin at 6:00 pm.