Shiloh Irene Skalka was born on January 25, 2010, in Reno, Nev., and spent the first few months of her life in Lake Tahoe during a snowy winter. That spring, her family returned to their home in Burlington, Vt., where she was surrounded by loving family and friends until her passing on July 16, 2026.
Shiloh attended YMCA Preschool, Edmunds Elementary and Middle School, and Burlington High School. A straight-A student, she excelled in history, science and especially art. Through her paintings and drawings, she expressed a precise, thoughtful and deeply perceptive soul. She impressed classmates and teachers alike with her intelligence, creativity, and quiet yet fierce independence. Her kindness and gentle sense of humor were a light to everyone fortunate enough to know her.
From the time she was a baby, Shiloh loved animals, forests and mountains. She learned to ride horses, loved hiking and skiing, and treasured every opportunity to be outdoors with family and friends. Whenever she could, she rode her bicycle, delighting in the wind through her beautiful hair and the simple joy of experiencing the world around her. A devoted cat lover, she had a natural gift for caring for animals. Above all else, Shiloh cherished her friends. She loved spending time with them, sharing laughter, music, and her thoughtful observations and quick wit.
Shiloh leaves behind a legacy of kindness, selflessness, humor and a profound appreciation for the beauty of the world. She is survived by her twin brother, Kazimir; mother, Susan; father, Christian; grandmothers, Irene Colvin and Anna Marie Skalka; aunts, Lisa Matanle and Jeanne Skalka; uncles, Craig Matanle and Alan Calfee; cousins, Owen and Emmett Matanle; and many dear friends who will forever carry her memory in their hearts.
A memorial service celebrating Shiloh’s life will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, 2 p.m., at First Congregational Church of Burlington, 38 South Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT.
In lieu of flowers, we are setting up a memorial fund through the Vermont Community Foundation: gofundme.com/manage/remembering-shiloh-a-fund-for-kindness-and-creativity.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. To share memories, photographs and condolences with the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.