Cole Austin Stoddard

Sandown, NH: Cole Austin Stoddard, age 5 of Sandown, died on Friday, January 20, 2012, surrounded by his family at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, following a courageous battle with neuroblastoma.

Born in Manchester, NH, son of Anthony and Michelle (Stasio) Stoddard, he was a member of Saint Anne's Parish in Hampstead.

Cole was a young boy with a special gift of bringing laughter, smiles, and joy to everyone he met. His greatest pleasure was making others happy. He loved to be outdoors playing with his twin brother Troy, his older sister Tara, and his many cousins. Cole was such a loving, caring boy who could always be counted on to brighten each moment with a silly joke or one of his magical smiles. On the night before he passed struggling for each breath Cole looked up at his mother and father and repeated twice, "Smile, Be Happy!" Cole taught us all to treasure each and every moment with our children and to always smile and be happy.

He is survived by his loving family including his parents, Anthony "Tony"' and Michelle (Stasio) Stoddard , his sister Tara Marie Stoddard, and his twin brother Troy Anthony Stoddard, all of Sandown, maternal grandparents, Dennis and Mary Ann (Pazyra) Stasio of Atkinson, paternal grandparents David and Anna (Lanzillo) Stoddard of Woburn, MA,  maternal great-grandfather, John M. Stasio of Revere, MA and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 2 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow, NH. His Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday at 10a.m. in Saint Anne's Church, Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH. The family requests that those attending the services wear colorful clothing in Cole's honor. Burial arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in Cole's name be made to NB Alliance, P.O.Box 193, Shelburne, VT 05482.