Courtesy of the Tittmann Family
Aurelia Starr Tittmann (2002-2026)
In March 2002, Aurelia Starr Tittmann was born to Kelly Guest and Jason Tittmann in Denver, Colorado. Her birth was followed within a few years by her sister Ruth “Tracey,” of whom she was fiercely protective and with whom she eventually became best friends. Early years of creative play with friends at Leaping Lizards—her parents’ home childcare center—turned into a lifelong love of art, stories, poetry, reading, writing, puppetry, music, performance, and imagination. Aurelia performed in the Shakespeare Festival and made pilgrimages to the Poetree with their family. Aurelia learned from her hippie parents the appreciation of analogue media and old things, spending time outdoors, caring for animals, and making use of things that other people might not value or throw away. In 2020, Aurelia graduated from the Denver School of the Arts Creative Writing Program.
Aurelia was drawn to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, where they attended Lewis & Clark. Majoring in English and Anthropology, Aurelia appreciated learning about literature, magic, and museum curation. Their studies were complemented by their on-campus archives job and working as a research assistant for ethnographic projects at the University of Minnesota. She regularly took rainy-day walks through nearby woods, delighting in being surrounded by trees, moss, lichen, fungi, ferns, slugs, and frogs. Aurelia made a great group of friends in college with whom she threw elaborate costume and narrative parties, hosted Godzilla movie marathons, watched artsy and esoteric films on dorm ceilings, found treasures at thrift stores, and travelled out to the Oregon coast. Her blue Subaru Forester “Nicodemus” took them all on many adventures together with soundtracks by The Moldy Peaches, The Mountain Goats, Talking Heads, and more.
Aurelia enjoyed lurking creepily around cemeteries, sewing and mending clothes, collaging her walls with art and photographs, drinking tea, playing games, reading novels, riding trains, visiting lighthouses, and loafing around with her beloved cats—most recently her kitten, Oblio. She travelled by car, train, and plane with friends and family around the United States and to Haiti, Peru, and Mexico. She often organized trips to take people to places of wonder and whimsy—like her mom, dad, and sister to the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, her cousin Fen and aunts Erin and Miranda to tucked away art installations and a convent with mummies in Mexico City.
Their favorite season was autumn, with crunchy leaves, sweater weather, warm beverages in cozy cafes, corn mazes, opportunities to create and wear intricate costumes, and myriad enchantments. Aurelia was rarely without a book, journal, camera, or craft. Their crafting was prolific and encompassed many mediums: knitting, quilting, collaging, sewing, weaving, carving stamps, screen printing, book binding, etc.
She did not like to hug as much as wrestle, which she did often with her sister Tracey and cousin Fen—with whom she destroyed very much furniture.
She understood herself to be delightfully strange to the world; and the world is better for all her love, humor, generosity, and creativity.
Aurelia was preceded in death by her dad, Jason Tittmann. She is survived by her mom Kelly Guest, sister Tracey Tittmann, uncle and aunt Eric and Monika Tittmann, “splendid relatives” Erin Durban and Miranda Joseph, cousin Fenniver Durban-Albrecht-Joseph, grandfather Robert Durban, grandmother Terry Riley, and many extended family members. Aurelia also had a close relationship with the Getahun/Dimberg Family.
In addition to her many gifts, vast library of unique books, and collection of bones and odd things, Aurelia left behind an “Aurelia” doll, with curly yellow hair, a green shirt, black overalls, and button eyes like in Coraline.
There is a celestial star named after Aurelia Starr in the International Star Registry.
Condolences and memories for Aurelia’s family can be shared on Aurelia’s tribute wall https://www.riverviewcemeteryfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Aurelia-Starr-Tittmann?obId=46952476
Future services commemorating Aurelia’s life will be held in Denver. Please check the River View website for updates in the Events section.
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