Danae Alexandra Hornung

Danae Alexandra Hornung, 31, passed away on January 26, 2024 in Las Cruces. A native New Mexican, she was born on October 30, 1992 in Albuquerque and grew up in Las Cruces. A devoted and loving daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend, Danae emanated a gentle kindness, loving generosity, bright intellect and playful humor that will continue to touch us across the ripples of time.

Danae attended Tombaugh Elementary, Vista Middle School and Mayfield High School. She joined Young Women in Computing and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information and Communication Technology from New Mexico State University. Danae completed internships at Carnegie Mellon University and Johns Hopkins University, before beginning her professional career. Danae was proud of working in cyber-security and qualifying for various security clearance levels. A fierce competitor and accomplished powerlifter, Danae celebrated her first Olympic-style weightlifting competition on her 30th birthday. A champion in many respects, Danae loved winning and was known for the impish declaration of “Hah! I win!”.

Danae loved well and deeply. Her unaffected generosity, compassion, caring, and uniquely mischievous joy enriched time with family, friends, sweethearts, strangers and her beloved animal companions, Lily and Taz. Danae delivered homemade gourmet tiramisu, Josh Groban CDs, hot wonton soup, cold medicine and ran errands, when her “peeps” were under the weather or needed her special brand of comfort. Her empathy and willingness to serve others extended to strangers. Carrying sets of spare jumper cables for those in need, she happily provided jumps from her car battery to stranded motorists.

Danae embraced joy and laughter, philosophy and satire, learning and organization, thoughtfulness, exhilaration and fought hard against the challenges she faced. Born prematurely, Danae spent the early weeks of her life in a neo-natal intensive care unit in Albuquerque. She experienced lingering health issues throughout her life. Gifted with a brilliant, quirky, orderly and inquisitive mind she found delight, inspiration and satisfaction in participating in a Career Art Path workshop, experimenting with Greek cooking with friends, composing award-winning haikus, stories, plays and rhyming poetry, listening to Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Disturbed, Guns N’ Roses, rap in various languages and Josh Groban’s soothing tenor/baritone. Danae’s extraordinary interest in reading, combined with an ability to read rapidly and recall thoroughly, was remarkable. Her library of favorites includes Fyodor Dostoevsky, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Voltaire and Leigh Hunt. Danae gravitated to order and minimalism at home and kept a tranquility garden complete with four Koi in the pond. She hated being late so she always arrived a few minutes early. Most likely a premie trait. Her broad and eclectic taste is evident in her love for Red Bull, dark chocolate, bright hair color, fast cars (standard transmissions only), Renoo Thai Time triple hot green curry, deviled egg sandwiches, Atari video games, Blazing Saddles, Alien, Jurassic Park and Young Frankenstein movies and the character Jar Jar Binks. A fan of predators both fictional and real, Danae had a soft spot for sharks, falcons, hawks, velociraptors and bees. She had a particular passion for crows, and sunflowers were her absolute favorite flower.

Danae is survived by her mother Maggie (Peggy) Hornung, father Steve Hornung, brother Christopher Orsetti Hornung, favored aunt and uncle Diana and Chris Wells, aunt Maria Tikkanen, aunts and uncles Sandy and David Coons, Marsha and Charles Wells, cousins Paul, Scott, Mike, Karla, Pam, Lara, Stasia, Maria, nieces, nephews, friends and beloved animal companions, Lily (Shepard/Husky mix) and Taz (cat).

Danae will continue to be near in the hearts of those that love her. Please share your thoughts, memories, photos and videos of Danae at this link https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/CGp3OJEq.

She is preceded in death by David and Helene Orsetti Wells - maternal grandparents, Paul and Roberta Near Hornung - paternal grandparents and her beloved uncle Sam Tikkanen. A rosary, followed by a funeral mass, and reception will be held at Holy Cross Retreat (600 Holy Cross Rd, Mesilla Park NM 88047) on February 17, 2024 at 1:00 pm. An informal reception will be held at 4:00 pm at the Boneyard/Ice Box in downtown Las Cruces. In lieu of flowers please donate to Suicide Prevention: https://supporting.afsp.org/campaign/Danae or Cat’s Meow Adoption Center.