Member: Donna
Indiana, USA
~~In Loving Memory of~~
Adam J. Bellner (20)
11/19/79 - 2/29/00
Only Child To Donna Bellner
Member: Robert
California, USA
~~In Loving Memory of~~
Carlos T Santiago-Gentile "Charlie", "Carlito",
"Sunshine"(25)
11/03/70 - 12/11/95
Carlos was given the name "Sunshine" at 7 years
old by hospital staff, a
name that aptly describes his function in my life
for more than 17 years.
Born and raised in the heart of the South Bronx
for the first seven years of
his life, this little boy knew the pain of
deprivation; yet, he absorbed the
best of what his troubled mother had to offer
which was a beautiful smile
and a magnanimous and adventurous spirit. He
roamed dangerous streets at an
early age and unfortunately he developed few
boundaries in his young life
for all that was truly life threatening.
Carlos wandered into my life when he was 8 years
old. He filled my life with
love and challenge for more than 17 years. We
developed a bond as father and
son which was life sustaining for him as well as
for me. "I feel what you
feel" came to describe a relationship in which
neither one of us had to use
many words to convey a profundity of emotion.
Ultimately, he taught me how to love
unconditionally, and I taught him a
softer view of himself and of life in general.
This boy knew the horrors of
the South Bronx, yet he also knew the beauty of
Hawaii and the richness of
the Aloha Spirit that permeates the people and
their land. In this magical
place, he grew spiritually and emotionally. Like
me, he was a Native New
Yorker, yet he was every bit a "Local Boy".
Hawaii is truly his home. His ashes lie in the
warm, calm, beautiful,
blue-green waters of Oahu. Diamond Head is his
monument. He is surrounded by
the very things that brought him peace and a
sense of awe while he was on
earth.
On December 11, 1995 in Santa Clara, California,
Carlos died by suicide.
He was living with me at the time. His life had
spun out of control, leaving
him fully open to the pain, impulsivity and
confusion that he felt so
acutely from time to time throughout his short
life. He was not afraid to
die. This he had learned from previous attempts
and from a deep seated
belief that death was the beginning of a new
journey and a new beginning. He
wanted to be free- free from emotional pain which
he had difficulty putting
into words throughout his life, free from his
need to self- medicate, free
from having to rock himself to sleep, free even
from the worry that he saw
on his dad's face.
It is now five years since he left. Fortunately
for me, the pain of having
lost him is not as great as the joy of having
loved him. So, I'll live to
honor his life and my relationship with him. I'll
live to grow in
understanding and compassion for all those who
are deeply injured and in
pain. I'll live to nurture the love he gave me as
I set him free from my
pain of physical separation from him. I know in
the depths of my being that
he is still with me, still a rascal, still
fun-loving, and ever my son. His
message to me resounds eternally, "Everything
turns out ok in the end" as I
think about a passage written by Kahlil Gibran-
"In a little while, a moment
of rest upon the wind, and another woman shall
bear me".
Member: Dan
Washington, USA
~~In Loving Memory of~~
Teresa Rae Huntington(16)
"KickerTee"
12/16/83 - 10/21/00
I remember the walk with your mother the day you were born, we thought it would help speed up your birth, it did.
I remember the ride to the hospital, your Mom had to turn around in the seat, while I ran the red lights.
I remember you were so anxious to be born, by the time I park the car and got to the room, your head was already out.
I remember thinking it's a girl, it's a cheerleader for a basketball team because of the five boys being born in my family before you.
I remember cerebrating your birth with my friend Ron Trahanes.
I remember bringing you home in my new truck, with your mother being so sore from the delivery.
I remember the many nights in the rocking chair because you were so colic.
I remember the night you had seizures, taking you to the hospital, holding your tiny body when they gave you a spinal tap, spending that night by your bedside while they bought your temperature down.
I remember all soccer and softball games, from when you could barely started walking.
I remember all the Tae Kwondo tournaments we went to, especially the Utah cup, where you made all the boys you fought cry.
I remember taking you to the lake when it snowed, sledding down the lake bank.
I remember the many trips to Disneyland.
I remember the hotel swimming pools where we would always play "motor boat, motor boat."
I remember our white water rafting trips, especially on the Sellway, when we flip our raft, also when you and a friend went on the Deschutes by yourself in Ten foot raft, you were so brave.
I remember the first time you rode your quad, I didn't think we would ever get you off it.
I remember the all the holidays, and your birthdays that we celebrated, especially your sixteenth, when we went and got your driver license.
I remember buying your first car, to which you nickname it "The Turd".
I remember that night in the hospital when the Lord took you, holding your hand, telling you over and over how much I love you, praying he would not take you.
It's been two long years since I've seen your beautiful smile, heard your lovely voice and miss your sense of humor. Especially, when you gave me a hard time. I always enjoy that.
Words are so hard to describe living life without you, I want to say so many things to you, but I know your in God's hands now, and with that, I can have some comfort. You will be forever in my heart and I will remember.
Love Dad
May God's love protect you
and guide you until
we can be together again.
Love Mom and Dad
Member: Carol
Yorkshire, England
~~In Loving Memory of~~
NICHOLA JAYNE SYKES(22)
9/28/77 - 12/22/99
FROM NIKI'S MUM "CAROL YORKSHIRE"
Niki age 22 taken from us 22 december 1999,
and her darling daughter Olivia
jayne,
who both fell asleep.
With us in our hearts forever,
all our love
Mum,
Dad, Donna, Rebecca, Jonathan and Ella xxxxx
Member: Sharon
New Zealand
~~In Loving Memory of~~
James Paul Robinson (14)
aka known as Jamie
12/24/84 - 11/04/99
Jamie came into this world weighing a healthy 8lb 12 1/2 oz. Little did we know how short his life would be and how much ours would change.
We were unaware of the extent of inner turmoil Jamie carried around with him. we thought we
understood him but we were so wrong we hadn't even scratched the surface.
Jamie loved to golf and fish and not a day passed that he wasn't drawing something.
He was loved so much, not just by his family but also his life time mate Jason and his special friend Hannah, and so many other friends he never realized he had.
we love you Jamie and we miss you so much. a part of us has gone with you.
Love,
Mum Dad
Rebecca
Mitchell and Connor
The angels wept as they took you in their arms
They whispered we will love and take care of you
Until you meet with them again.
Member: Rosa
Missouri, USA
Step father: James Dye
~~In Loving Memory of~~
Amanda Lynn Reese(15)
8/12/83 - 4/6/99
Member: Janey Ochsendorf
Canada
~~In Loving Memory of~~
ANNEMIEK OCHSENDORF (twin) (22)
10/6/77 - 3/2/00
Doug (always 22)
Barry (26)
Riannon (17)