Maya L. Cano

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Maya Lynn Cano, the beautiful and sweet daughter of the Cano family of Dyersville, Iowa, passed away on July 5, 2026, due to injuries sustained in a jet ski accident on Clear Lake. Though her life was far too short, Maya's adventurous spirit, radiant smile, and kindness touched countless lives. Her memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, July 12th, 2026, at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa.

Maya Lynn Cano was born on June 12, 2012. From the very beginning, she possessed the perfect blend of sass, humor, and joy that would define her throughout her life. She attended Western Dubuque Schools and was eagerly looking forward to beginning her freshman year this fall. She was excited about the experiences high school would bring, the friendships she would make, and finding her place in the world.

Maya was the light of her parents' lives. Her smile and infectious laughter could brighten any room, and her hugs had a way of making everything feel okay. She was Daddy's girl and her mom's best girl, best friend, shopping buddy, travel companion, and favorite human in the entire world. Maya was her mom's shadow, happily accompanying her wherever she went. After earning her permit earlier this summer, she insisted on being the one to drive her mom everywhere.

As the youngest of three, Maya adored her brothers, Marcus and Logan, and her sister-in-law, Lynn. She was spoiled beyond measure, and her brothers loved doting on her every chance they got. She loved spending time with Marcus and Lynn, whether they were simply hanging out or exchanging random Snapchats throughout the day. One of her favorite traditions with Logan was searching for Pokémon cards and excitedly opening packs together to see what treasures they had found.

Family was at the center of Maya's world. She shared a special bond with each of her grandparents and somehow had the remarkable ability to convince them to do just about anything. She famously talked Grandma Tonya into buying Walmart's entire stock of Nee-Dohs, then put her entrepreneurial spirit to work selling them and collecting the profits. Maya was surrounded by a family who loved her beyond measure. Her aunts and uncles celebrated every milestone, cheered her on, and filled her life with laughter, traditions, and unconditional love. She adored her cousins, Christian, Maricela, Marcelino, Monica Nathan, Elise, Conrad, Miya and Bronson, and treasured every family gathering, holiday, and memory they shared together. She was also a wonderful babysitter who loved little children, and they naturally gravitated toward her kind heart and playful spirit.

Maya loved her family and friends, but her kindness extended far beyond the people she knew. Whether in a store or a restaurant, she would walk up to complete strangers to compliment their hair or nails or simply tell someone they were beautiful. She believed that even the smallest act of kindness could brighten someone's entire day.

Although Maya faced her own challenges with anxiety and depression, she met them with incredible courage. During her hardest days and biggest feelings, she leaned on the unwavering love and support of her family, the compassionate care of her therapists, and the tools she learned along the way. She never stopped trying, and little by little, hope began to replace the darkness. Maya had begun overcoming many of her struggles and was enjoying the best summer of her life.

Her experiences gave her a remarkable sense of empathy for others. Maya became an advocate for mental health, helping to break the stigma with honesty, compassion, and understanding. Those experiences inspired her dream of becoming a therapist so she could one day help children the way so many wonderful people had helped her. She wanted every child to know they were seen, supported, and never alone.

To know Maya was to laugh. She was quick-witted, wonderfully dramatic in the very best way, and a gifted storyteller who could turn even the most ordinary day into an adventure. She had an incredible way of making people feel noticed, valued, and loved simply by being herself.

Creativity was at the heart of who Maya was. She expressed herself fearlessly, especially through her colorful hair, which she and her mom dyed pink, purple, and her favorite color, blue. Some days she proudly wore her beautiful curls loose, and other days she perfected her signature "slick-back" style.

Music and art brought Maya peace. Her favorite artists were Billie Eilish, Lizzy McAlpine, Alex Warren, and Olivia Rodrigo. She loved attending concerts with her mom and was overjoyed to see her favorite artists perform live. Being able to touch Billie Eilish’s hand will be a memory treasured forever. She had a beautiful voice and loved singing and harmonizing with her mom in the car, no matter where they were going.

Her creativity extended into everything she did. She loved drawing, painting, and decorating cakes, even creating an elaborate Stranger Things-themed cake for an all-night binge-watch of the final season with her mom. Together they also traveled to New York City to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway. For her fourteenth birthday, Maya received a Stranger Things LEGO set that she was absolutely over the moon about. She loved building LEGO sets, and her bedroom is filled with all the sets she completed herself.

Maya also loved exploring the world. She recently enjoyed a cruise with her mom and Grandma Tonya, where one of her favorite memories was swimming with dolphins. She traveled to Mexico, New York City, Niagara Falls, and many other places, collecting a snow globe from every destination her family visited. Her newest addition had just arrived from Logan's recent trip to Poland.

Maya was especially proud to have been born in June because it was Pride Month. She loved the love in the air, the rainbow flags everywhere, and the reminder that everyone deserves to be accepted exactly as they are.

She also had a heart for animals. Her favorite mornings began with her cat, Luna, curled up beside her head and her dog, Snickers, snuggled at her feet. She loved visiting Grandma Tonya and Grandpa Duane's house to spend time with her beloved Maggie Girl and their cats. Her own bed was overflowing with Jellycats, Build-A-Bears, and countless stuffed animals won by her dad and cousins from claw machines. These were a collection she treasured as much as the memories attached to each one.

Maya is lovingly survived by her parents; her brothers and sister-in-law Marcus (Lynn) Cano and Logan Cano; her grandparents Tonya and Duane Millard and LouAnn Morris, Delfino y Silvia Cano; her aunts and uncles Kenny and Grace Valley, Nic and Savannah Valley, Jorge Cano, Brenda Cano, Mandy Morris, and Sherrie Morris, cousins Nathan and Elise Valley, Conrad and Bronson Valley, Christian Hernandez, Maricela, Marcelino, and Monica Herreguin, and Miya Davis; her extended family from Mexico; and countless friends whose lives are forever better because they knew her. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Robert “Bob” Valley and maternal and paternal great-grandparents.

A memorial fund has been set up at Dupaco Community Credit Union in honor of Maya. Donations can be made to the Maya Cano Benefit Account.

Maya Lynn Cano leaves behind a legacy of kindness, courage, laughter, and unconditional love. She reminded us that the smallest acts of compassion can change someone's day, that being yourself is something to celebrate, and that hope can grow even after the darkest moments.

In Maya's memory, please be kind to yourself and to others. Compliment a stranger. Sing along in the car. Hug the people you love. Embrace your uniqueness. And, like Maya did every day, find joy in the people and the world around you.

In honor of Maya's dream of helping children struggling with their mental health, the family encourages anyone who is hurting to reach out, ask for help, and remember that healing is possible. Maya believed every person deserved to feel seen, supported, loved, and never alone.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.