Esmeralda Diana Zhuzhelen Kucukova
Obituary

Esmeralda Kucukova was born in Latvia on January 2, 1999, and passed away on September 14, 2025, in San Diego.

Esmeralda, known as Es, was eccentric, caring, and compassionate. She was the life of the party and never met a stranger. She loved art, learning, basketball, and expressing herself, and she had a deep affection for her beloved fur babies Delphine, Dex, and Nabu. 

Es loved to explore and spend time outdoors, always bringing adventure, laughter, and love to everyone she met. Bonfires, joy, chaos, and Star Wars reenactments were all part of her vibrant spirit. Her humor, contagious laugh, and fearless approach to life inspired those around her.

Es proudly served four years in the Marines and later settled in California, where she pursued her passion for computer programming and embraced new adventures. She loved to travel and always put others before herself.

She is survived by her sister Sarah Thomas; parents Christa and Anthony Haney; sisters and their spouses Lauren and Rodey Kirby, Madison Jefferson and Chris Mackey, and Emily and Jesse Blackmon; brothers Ashton Haney and Levi Lanham; partner Emese Maklary; grandparents Connie and Bill Toney and Ramona and James Holmes; and countless friends and family. She was preceded in death by her mentor Jessica Chatman.

A memorial will be announced at a later date.

Esmeralda will be remembered for her spontaneity, her contagious laugh and smile, and the boundless love she shared with everyone in her life.