Cameron Weiss

September 26, 1992 to August 13, 2011
Age 19

Cameron Weiss passed away at the age of 18 on August 13, 2011. He died in his bed of a drug overdose. His death sent shock waves throughout the community, his close network of friends, and of course his family. We know that life is precious and every day is a gift; however, in the life of a drug addict, the game of Russian Roulette is played each time they use drugs. We, as parents, live in a sheltered world of denial in that we think it won’t happen to us. Cameron was a normal teenager who loved to play football and had a passion for wrestling, grappling, and MMA. He loved life and had many friends who considered him their brother. Cameron’s first exposure to heroin was in August, 2009. He made a fateful decision to try something he knew nothing about. That one decision is something he regretted almost from day one as the stranglehold of addiction gripped him by the neck and controlled his life. He didn’t want to be addicted to heroin; he didn’t want this drug controlling his mind, his thoughts, and his every move. He realized very quickly what it meant to be a heroin addict and what it meant to stare death in the face. He wanted out and he wanted his life back. Cameron’s death is devastating to so many people on so many levels and his family only hopes that in his death, he is able to save the lives of others by sharing his story, his struggles, and his triumphs, hopes, and dreams. All of these things taken away by the power of heroin. Don’t even try it, not even once. This risk is not worth the reward. – Curtis, Jennifer, and Kaitlyn Weiss

Michael Duran

August 18, 1991 – February 2, 2011

Age 19

Michael L. Duran, Jr. was a handsome, funny, intelligent and athletic young man who chose the wrong path three years prior to his death. His love for baseball began when he was only two years old; he would sit with his dad and watch major league baseball. He loved music and learned to play the piano and the guitar. At six, he played chess and was able to beat most adults. He loved to fish, camp, hunt, jet-ski, and snowboard. He enjoyed the challenge of the black diamonds. Michael began playing baseball at the age of five in little league, as well as club ball, and was coached by his dad throughout the years. He was on varsity and lettered in the 8th grade. He also played basketball and soccer, but his passion was baseball.

Like most boys, he dreamed of being a professional ballplayer. He was a typical teenager, he was a total slob, and lazy when it came to doing anything other than sports!!! He often demanded to be the center of attention and quite often reminded us that he knew it all! He enjoyed his role as big brother and took great pleasure in driving his sister crazy, most especially in their teen years! His dream was to someday return to California where he spent a semester in college; he also attended NMSU.

On February 2, 2011, at the young age of 19, Michael lost his battle to drug addiction. We will never see him live his dreams, we will never see him have a family of his own, nor will we be blessed with the nine children (baseball team) he often told us he would have one day. We will forever miss him and he will always be in our hearts. There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of him – our lives will never be the same. Michael – We love you, you are finally at peace. – Mom, Dad, and Nikkie

Nathan Weatherfield

December 12, 1989 to April 12, 2010
Age 20

Matt Gutierrez

September 4, 1990 to October 9, 2008
Age 18

Our son Matt had barely turned 18 when he was taken from us in an abrupt, brutal fashion. Life, as we knew it, would change forever. Life, as it is now, has required extensive and on-going repair. A task that is far from over. A task that no one should ever have to face. Losing a child is the most horrific, gut-wrenching, anxiety-filled pain there can be. A parent’s heart is broken beyond recognition. Nothing is familiar and nothing is the same because a constant pain is all you feel. Matt was a charismatic, good natured kid who loved animals, travel, the outdoors (nature), friends, and family. He had a remarkable patience with children and deep respect for the elderly. But he wasn’t perfect. There were times that his imperfections, combined with a free-spirited demeanor led him to make poor decisions, some big, some small, (some) others in between… as we all do. His decision to experiment with alcohol was one that we were aware of but did not condone. His decison to use heroin blindsided us. Imagine the shock to the heart and mind when police inform you that your child is dead! It becomes magnified when the mind searches for answers. Was it a car accident? Did he fall? Did he drown? Where? How? Instead you are informed that he overdosed on heroin! The shock and dsmay that you are in is now doubled, as you struggle frantically to hold on to life as you knew it to be a minute ago. Your mind rejects the news and your life has now been shattered into a million pieces.

Matt was not into that! It has to be someone else! Yes, that’s it! It has to be some kind of mistake – not heroin! Not Matt? God, No! We were unaware of the prevalence and availability of this horrible monster called heroin – we were unaware that heroin would shatter our lives… we’re aware NOW! If only we would have been made aware of how prevalent, inexpensive, and available heroin is. How popular it is with kids, our kids. Not heroin, not my kid, not my Matt! – Gary and Elaine Gutierrez

Stephen Cianciabella

February 24, 1988 to December 3, 2010
Age 22

On December 3, 2010, my son Stephen was soon to be 23. On that day, the world changed forever. My understanding is that, when Stephen collapsed from the overdose, everyone involved left in fear, leaving him on the floor. Don’t know how long. They returned and the 911 calls were made. My call came at 9pm. the EMTs revived him 3 or 4 times. He lived on a ventilator for less than 48 hours. When it became apparent that the damage was too great from being down so long, Stephen’s older brother Michael and I had to make the decision to turn it off, watch him disappear from us and say goodbye. We felt dismembered, thrown into some crazy impossible parallel universe. Not real, Can’t be real.

Our family’s struggle (Stephen’s struggle) lasted throughout 6 or 7 years. Some clean months, but more painful months. A roller coaster of laughter and love, along with agonizing fear and worry. Over that time, there were multiple trips to rehab, misdemeanor charges then felony charges, probation, counseling, drug testing, clinics, doctors, and suboxone. I saw glimpses of my son amidst it all. His uncontainable lust for life, love for music and art, particularly urban and street art. His thoughts were deep and his love was deep, but he was unable to become independent from this drug despite his fight. I know that one of the things he responded to so greatly was when people were real with him and didn’t treat him only as an addict but saw who he was as a person. He was creative, very intelligent, funny, brutally honest, and loving. His inner struggle was desperate and painful to watch. He was ashamed and didn’t want to be addicted to this drug, but heroin does not let you go, does not let you walk away. It is a relentless lover.

Heroin addicton is a disease that is very real. We must, as a community and as parents, enlighten ourselves, become armed with knowledge and help our kids. Before we judge them, we need to understand the depth of their struggle. None came into this world ever wanting this for themselves. I know their desperation is to be free from the “gutter life” as Stephen would say. It is imperative that we fight for our kids and future leaders. – Susan Cianciabella, Mother

Haley Paternoster

December 25, 1993 to April 9, 2010
Age 17

I watched my 16-year-old daughter fight for her last few breaths in a hospital ER. In the end, the heroin won. On April 8, 2010, I was in Roswell for the New Mexico Military Institute Board of Regents meeting. I noted on my Blackberry that the daily credit card report for our restaurant, La Provence, hadn’t been finished, so I called home. Haley had spent the previous night snuggling with me and watching a movie. She answered and assured me that she would let my wife Jane, her stepmother, know about the credit card issue and call right back. She called me back and went downstairs to play with her two younger brothers: Jameson, 2, and 5-year-old Jackson. A short time later, as Jane was leaving the house with the boys, she told Jameson to knock on Haley’s door and “tell Sissy goodbye.” Haley didn’t answer. Jane knocked, still no answer. She entered the bedroom and discovered that the bathroom door was locked. Jane ran downstairs, grabbed a butter knife and came back up to jimmy the door.

Haley was on the floor, no pulse, no breathing. The paramedics arrived immediately; it was apparent that she took the drug – it was heroin – in both wrists. They also found some Vicodin. They were able to get her heart started, but she never regained consciousness.

Haley was rushed to UNMH where she hung on for 17 hours, her breathing became more labored, her heart rate dropping, fever climbing, lungs filling with fluid. Haley received “complete and compassionate care” from the hospital staff. Several times, they would restart her heart and plead with her to stay alive. That evening, it became clear that Haley wasn’t going to make it. I said that if they couldn’t make it where Haley would still be Haley, that I couldn’t do it. The priest administered last rites and I issued a do not resuscitate order. She went into arrhythmias, and this is something no one should ever have to witness; she sat staight upright in the bed, and her eyes flashed open. she fell back. It was horrifying, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life. I told her it was OK to go, and she did.

Haley loved her firends, loved doing things for other people, and we had plans to go skiing that weekend. Everybody was crazy about her. She had good family support. She was a kid who was getting high like her friends were getting high, and that’s what she chose to do. She was a good girl with a good family who had everything going for her. She made bad choices that ultimately took her life. I don’t want anyone else to go through the pain we have experienced. It is so important people understand the dangers of prescription drugs and heroin abuse, so they can educate themselves and their kids before it’s too late. – Steve Paternoster

Jared Daniel Szalay

July 3, 1990 to January 31, 2011
Age 21

The day Jared was born was the happiest day of my life. I wanted to be a mother more than anything. Soon after he was born, I was diagnosed with cancer and never able to have another child. Jared was my pride and joy, my heart, my everything. My world ended when I was informed he was found unconscious in an ER bathroom in Dallas, Texas. On January 31, 2011, I had to make the decision to take him off life support. I was told there was no chance of him coming back and forced to make a decision that no parent should ever have to make. We give our children life and never expect to have to aid in their death. His life ended because of a horrible, nasty, addictive, relentless, and inexpensive drug called heroin.

Jared had everthing going for him, a loving, supportive family who encouraged him to follow his dreams. He was witty, intelligent, charming, handsome, and very personable. He was a typical boy growing up who enjoyed fishing, hunting, friends, animals, and traveling the world. His favorite was coming into my Kindergarten classroom and working with the children. He had a beautiful girlfriend, was halfway through college, and had a brand new truck (graduation gift). He always had a mind of his own, was very headstrong and determined to live life his way.

When I discovered his addiction to heroin it was a total shock and surprise. I had no idea that drug dealers were targeting our youth. I did everthing possible to get him the help he so desperately needed. He was in and out of rehabs for a year and featured on the Dr. Oz show and I believed that this was Jared’s saving grace from God. He was sent to one of the best rehab facilities in the nation. After two weeks, he was kicked out. His roommate snuck in drugs and he took them. Two days later he was in Dallas, Texas with an old suitcase and a few items of clothing. The hospital called because of the ID tag on the suitcase, informing me that my son had been found. That call was absolutely a mother’s worst nightmare. I told myself it wasn’t true and that it couldn’t possibly be that bad as I drove the agonizing 14 hours to rescue my baby and hold him close in my arms. Upon arriving, there was an orange sign on his door saying “Immediate Family Only.” I fell to my knees in despair knowing his fate was sealed. I cried harder than I’ve ever cried, I prayed harder than I’ve ever prayed, and screamed louder than I’ve ever screamed. I sat at his bedside for two days begging him to open his beautiful hazel eyes and tell me that everything was going to be okay.

Jared lived 20 years, 6 months, and 28 days. Because of his gift of organ donation, three other people now live on. I don’t understand how or why this had to happend to my son, I pray ever day that God will use his story to bring awareness to others about this horrible drug and to help others understand that even using heroin once can be a death sentence. – Lori Magee

 

Roman Montano

1990 to May 2, 2012
Age 22

Our son Roman Montano died at 22 years old on May 2, 2012. Roman began his battle with heroin addiction after he chose to self medicate when his world came crashing down on him 4 months before he graduated in 2008. Roman had the time of his life throughout high school and lived it to the fullest. He was a three sport athlete and especially had a passion for baseball…to him, “baseball was life”! Roman began playing sports as soon as he was old enough. He stood out in every sport he participated because he was big for his age and had the athleticism to go with it. By the time he was a senior in high school he had many scholarship offers and was going to be in the MLB draft in June following graduation. Things didn’t work out the way he had planned when he made a mistake and got into trouble with some boys which consequently led to him being kicked out of sports the rest of his senior year. Roman didn’t expect to lose everything he had worked for over an impulsive mistake. His entire identity to him was being an athlete and he knew he had the rare opportunity to play pro ball…that crushed him not to finish his senior year with a “BANG”, instead he was humiliated in the media and endured intense ridicule and shame. Although we reassured our son that it would pass and he still had his entire life ahead of him, he was devastated. He began using pain pills to escape his turmoil which led him to heroin. We were shocked when we discovered he was using heroin and immediately got him help. He never went to rehab or counseling despite our insistence and instead chose to see a doctor who prescribed suboxone. He continued taking the suboxone and seemed to be moving forward in life. He enrolled at UNM, joined a fraternity, entered a bodybuilding competition, and even got into MMA. Roman had remarkable work ethic and self discipline in anything he did. For the most part that period of time he was clean, but there were a couple of times we believed he had slipped for a weekend here & there but continued to try very hard to stay on track. Because Roman didn’t use on a daily basis and didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a “heroin addict”, I guess we were all in denial at different levels, including Roman. We never expected for him to relapse, let alone die.

Roman loved cars and loved to socialize. He had more cars in his short life than most adults have in a lifetime. He was also a neat freak and obsessive about his clothes and being organized to the point that it made us laugh. Roman was full of life and we know he didn’t expect to die. He for reasons we will never know, relapsed the day he died. He had a great life with family who loved him and adored him. He had a new baby girl and a fiancé he loved very much. He had just been in contact with a man at NFL headquarters in New York who wanted to get him a tryout….life was good for him. Roman was well known throughout the community and the state for his status as an athlete, he was loved by so many people because of his kindness and genuine personality. He smiled all the time, was a people person and extremely funny. We miss him more than words can ever express. Losing our beautiful Roman has profoundly impacted our lives with inconceivable pain and anguish. We miss him so much in our lives and still feel like it’s a bad dream or nightmare that he’s gone.

– JoAnn (mom), Bo (dad), Beau (brother), Mikaila (fiancé), and Addyson (daughter)

Geri L.

December 20, 1984 to April 2, 2010
Age 26

Geri-L was 25 years old when she lost her battle with heroin addiction on April 2, 2010. She was a beautiful and smart girl who graduated from University High School in Orlando, Florida, at the top of her class. She had a bright future ahead of her, and she loved her family very much. Geri-L loved shopping, cooking, and laughing. Her laugh was loud and infectious. She had no problem making you smile even when you didn’t want to. My sister left behind many loved ones, including her 5-year-old daughter, Harmony. – Jennifer Dunnell

 

Paul Anthony Marquez

January 7, 1992 to October 28, 2011
Age 19

Paul Marquez was an amazing person. He was a very handsome young man and he had a big smile that made him shine. During his high school years he was a very talented football player and wrestler. Paul was a very humble and respectful person. He was always willing to defend someone or help anyone that needed it. He was a little shy at times, but you could always see his little smirk come through and it would eventually turn into his gorgeous smile.

He was really close to his family, he was a great son, a wonderful big brother, the world’s best uncle, and the best little brother a sister could ask for. Paul wanted to beat his addiction so he could help others fight and beat their drug addiction. Unfortunately on October 28, 2011 Paul lost his battle with drugs. It was a terrible loss to our family and friends, and we will never be the same without him. But through Paul’s family, his dream of helping others fight drugs will come true.

Paul’s strength is what is giving our family strength to help stop drug addiction, and his name and memory are going to help save lives. We love and miss you every single day Paul and you will be in our hearts forever! Love, Your big sis Jenna, Mom, Dad, lil sis Brianna, and your niece Jayla!

 

Collin W. Cannaday

July 30, 1988 – April 25, 2011

Age 22

Charles Anthony Miller
(AKA Chuckie/Chuck)

October 11, 1995 to March 11, 2017
Age 21

Chuck was my only child. He was truly a blessing for me and my husband. As I found out I was pregnant with him a couple of months after losing my father. Chuckie had a loving, caring, generous nature. He enjoyed football, video games, and hanging out with his friends; he was very social, popular some might say. He had a unique sense of humor, with a laugh that was contagious, and was wise beyond his years. His presence gave so much joy to life, for those that knew him. Chuckie was also a mama’s boy, numerous people knew that, and he was not ashamed of that fact. It makes me smile to this day, that he labeled himself as such. The relationship we had was close, the closest bond a mother and child could have, sometimes he would tell his friends he couldn’t hang out, because he had plans with his mom. Which we did, we played video games together, watched movies, went bowling, and sometimes out to dinner, just the two of us. This is how special our bond was, he showed me unconditional love.

While in high school my son was seduced by cocaine, as football team mates offered it to him, exclaiming the drug would make him play better. By the end of senior year, the drug had taken hold.

This person was not my son. He would manipulate, lie, and steal from the people closest to him for his fix. My husband and I made every effort to find anyone that would help. My son started seeing a psychologist and was clean for a little over 2 years. He moved out on his own, had a full time job, and was looking into his possible future career choices. Late 2016, Chuck had asked to move back into the house so he could pay off some incurred credit card debt from his past using days. We were reluctant as he was doing so well, but allowed him to move back into our home thinking about his future. A few months past, and one day while at work, I received a phone call from my husband stating my son was “messed up and high on something” and we needed to do something like a rehab. Never in my wildest dreams would I think this was my life. Chuck addicted to OxyContin and Xanax at the time, completed a 30 day rehabilitation outside of Albuquerque, and was sent off on his own after completion.

I thought to myself this is absurd, I could still see he was struggling. I would continually ask him if he was contacting his sponsor. I also helped him schedule an appointment with his primary care doctor, as he had run out of the antidepressants, and other medications he had been prescribed. He continued working his full time job and attending AA/NA meetings in the community through early 2017.
February 2017 was a turn for the worst, as I noticed a dramatic behavior change and asked him if he was high. His response was “yes” I then told him he needed to find somewhere else to go, if he was going to continue doing drugs. I can sit here and tell you all the regrets I have about that day, but it is not going to bring my son back.

Three weeks later my son passed away from fentanyl poisoning. He had taken a synthetic opiate.(looking identical to an Oxycontin) I am very angry that this epidemic has hit so close to home….our community! I am determined to help any child or parent that is going through the gates of hell with addiction. I want the world to know my son did not die in vain.

9 days before my son passed I wrote this for him, but forgot to send the text to him.

CHUCKIE
No matter what!!!
I will love you till the end of my days
No matter what
Times have been hard, but I know you were brave
No matter what
A better life is what we all crave
No matter what
I will always love you till the end of my days
~ Love Mom
We will miss you forever Chuckie Bear!
Love, Mom and Dad

Robert Matthew Louis Hix

July 05, 1989 — December 11, 2017

Age 28

Robbie was my baby boy!! He was the most amazing young man- handsome, funny, loyal and so very smart!! He played sports from the age of five, played football and wrestled throughout high school. He was kind and compassionate, and Grandma T was his hero! We were very close until drugs came into his life, then I became enemy #1…. Rob was very ashamed of his addiction and got clean several times but heroin and meth don’t let loose so easily!! Rob was a great daddy to his daughter before addiction took over his life! She was his greatest accomplishment and misses him so very much. He left our home for good in January, 2017, though he begged to come home a few times, we just couldn’t go back down that road. Yes, the guilt hits me hard at times and yes, I have the woulda, shoulda, coulda syndrome. Rob became a very angry and verbally abusive young man and that toxicity had no place in our lives anymore. We got guardianship of our granddaughter during his worse times and we truly thought that losing his daughter would be what would bring him back to us, it was not to be. My baby boy is no longer an addict, he is on his way to fly high with the angels and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! We love you so very much, son!! Til we meet again – Mom, Dad, T-Lex, Brother, sister and the boys.

Michael Matthew Rael

May 11, 1989 to September 8, 2012
Age 23

Addiction took my son’s life on September 8, 2012 at the age of 23.  Michael Matthew Rael had a strong sense of compassion, he loved others deeply and with kindness. This sense of compassion was something rare and powerful. I always said it was the kind that could change the world if given the chance to blossom. After his loss, we are still lost and confused as Matthew was a bright light in our lives. Everyday that I live my life without him, I live another day with him missing from me. He has been my life’s greatest teacher and he changed my life for the better. I will never stop telling his story. He has left this world for a much better place and I am surrounded by his love. ~ Veronica Lopez Kneip

 

Devin Glenn

March 23, 1993 to March 8, 2017
Age 23

Some of you know that I write for a living. That was always my dream and, for maybe a semester, that was also Devin’s very brief dream after a kind CNM professor told him he had potential. That’s the thing. Devin, my first born and my last born, had so much potential. Sometimes I think he knew that maybe all too well. Sometimes I don’t think he realized that at all. Words are my business, but in the 10 days since Devin left us all, they have been hard to gather together to convey anything meaningful, anything near what I want, what I need to say about my son, Devin Gabriel Krueger Glenn.

So what I did was look back to words I wrote about Devin about 23 years ago on the eve of his very first birthday. At the time, I wrote a column for The Albuquerque Tribune called The Mother Load, which was all about raising kids as I saw it through raising Devin. For a time, that meant Devin was the most famous kid in the city, and thousands of readers knew about his dirty diapers, his first boo boo, his first haircut, his first wise words. In that first birthday column, I reflected on the many gifts and lessons he had given me. In part, here is what I wrote. We were talking about his impending first birthday — I talked, he gibbered — and wishing that days like these could go on forever. But today Devin Gabriel turns 1, and I’m already mindful of the day when he is no longer just my little buddy, ready to burst into a fit of giggles with the tickle of my finger or the crunch of my face. My buddy who thinks that I can turn juice bottle lids into gems. My buddy who reaches for me when he is scared, when he is happy, when he just wants to be loved.

So it goes… First birthdays are monumental, joyous but bittersweet, made more of by the parent than the unassuming birthday star. In Devin’s mind, it is just another day, just another haircut. Just another toy. But for me it’s a year of memories. He taught me that I must play a part in making this world a better place for him and all children. He has taught me that there is more to life than a career and a Cuisinart. He has taught me the importance of clipping coupons for disposable diapers because they sure get expensive.

And he has taught me about unconditional love. As we sat there that day at the Point, I thought about the things I’d like to teach him. Things like being kind to animals, treating women as equals, how to fish, how to bake bread, how to keep appreciating nature like that which surrounds us in the Manzanos. How to stay perfect and never grow old. But that would be a gift for me. Better that he should grow up healthy, strong, independent and wise.

Most of all, I want to teach him to remember simple days like those at the Point and how much I love him, how these days will not go on forever but that love will. Happy Birthday, my dear son. May you have many more. Devin went on to have 22 more birthdays. He would have celebrated his 24th birthday next Thursday. Like I said in that column long ago, these days will not go on forever. And they didn’t. And my heart is broken.

I am angry that such a thing as heroin found him, seduced him and enslaved him, all with me having not a clue it was happening. I am angry that Devin did not believe he was as good and perfect as I saw him that he needed that horrible killer in his life. Devin and I talked often about drugs like heroin. Mom, he’d say, I’ll never even try heroin. I’m scared of it. I hate needles. Besides, I’m invincible.

There will be time for that reckoning, for fighting against the scourge of heroin and opiates, which are killing so many of our sons and daughters. And believe me, I swear, if any of you for a moment think about using that poison, remember who we lost because of it and remember that I will come for you and smack you into your senses, something I didn’t get a chance to do for Devin.

Today, though, I ask that we remember the beautiful days, the happy days, the days when we were fortunate enough to have my son, my buddy, my rock, your Suga D, in our lives. I ask you all to honor him as he honored me, by learning we must all play a part in making this world a better place for all children. – Joline Krueger, Mother

 

Bradly McCready

1992 to 2016
Age 24

Brady loved Playing basketball with his brother and friends. He had the best outgoing personality, he was a best friend to many, a proud dad to his newborn baby girl, loving son and awesome big brother… Brady struggled with opiates for over 6 years in and out of detox and rehabs… He tried his best but unfortunately his demons got the best of him. He will be greatly missed and forever loved. – Julie Incollingo

 

Kristelle Parras

September 19, 1991 to November 7, 2016

Age 25

Kristelle was a happy person who made friends easily and had a unique ability to connect with anyone. She loved the Denver Broncos and was a movie aficionado. She enjoyed movies so much that her first job was at a movie theater. She played volleyball and basketball during elementary and middle school and was an active member serving her church. She had a loud, hearty, contagious laugh, which usually involved her nostrils flaring and her mouth dropping wide open. She could brighten up any room with her positive energy and was an absolute pleasure to be around. She was also extremely affectionate, loyal, and known for giving the best bear hugs.

 She grew up very close to her mother’s large family and was blessed with two aunts and two uncles who were more like siblings. In fact, Kristelle was only six years younger than one of her aunts. Her maternal grandparents were like bonus parents to her as she lived with them and her mom while her mom finished high school and again in her twenties while Kristelle was attending college, working, and navigating the world. When she was 15 years old, she was blessed with a brother and two years later, a sister. She was by her mom’s side, supporting her and holding her hand when both her siblings entered this world. She had a deep closeness with her mother and was absolutely smitten with her siblings. She spent most of her free time with her immediate and extended family members, going out to eat, shopping, camping, fishing, helping with homework, playing video games and watching movies. Her bond with her family was extremely close. She was known for making family a priority and even spent time visiting family members who were sick.

Our world was completely devastated on October 29, 2016, the day we got “the call” from the hospital. We were at a Halloween carnival and thought she was at work. We were completely unaware that anything was wrong. It’s amazing how your whole world can change in an instant, literally in ONE PHONE CALL. The hospital staff only had her name and a description and spent hours trying to locate us. They informed us that she suffered cardiac arrest and that her heart had stopped beating twice. It wasn’t until we met with the medical staff that we learned she had drugs in her system and that her brain had suffered from the lack of oxygen. She was in the hospital for a little over a week while they ran tests and determined that there was little they could do to repair the damage that had been done. We made the devastating decision to take her off life support. On November 7, 2016, our lives were changed forever as she left this world.

 We wish we knew she started taking drugs. We agonize over spotting the signs of drug use and why she hid this from the people who loved her most. We wish she had the opportunity to get help. We can’t understand why she was gone too soon and are deeply saddened by all the life moments she will miss with her family. She should be here. She continues to be deeply loved and missed daily and we’ll never forget the joy she brought to our lives for those brief 25 years we were blessed to share with her.

 – Rachel (Mommy), Carlos (stepdad), Isaiah (brother), and Haylee (sister)

Season “CeCe” Frost

9/6/88-5/26/18

Age 29

Beloved daughter, til we’re together again.

Colton Seth Chavez

08/12/90 – 10/20/18

Age 28

Grace Gallegos

09/10/1997 – 02/03/2018

Age 20

YOU are LOVED
YOU are MISSED
YOU are REMEMBERED
💛

Jason D. Bell

1988 – 2018

Antoinette Rene Rodriguez

11/28/90 – 10/13/19

Age 28

God looked around his garden and found an empty place, He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb. So, He closed your weary eyelids and whispered, ‘Peace be thine.’ It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you, The day God called you home. ~ Anonymous

Antonio Julian Lopez