Create a Memorial

Cassondra Jo Whitman

Age 33
BELOVED daughter, sister, mother and grandaughter
Age 33
33

So vibrant and full of life. Had a laugh that made you want to laugh with her. Personality - and then some.

Judith Marie Gutierrez

Age 20
Beautiful, loving, courageous, smart, funny
Age 20
20

Judith's smile and laughter would light up any room. She had a huge heart! She loved her family very much. She loved to sing.

Our last month together❤️

Her beautiful voice, kisses, her hugs, her laughter.

Zayne Brendon Balmer

Age 25
Son, brother, father, super funny
Age 25
25

His heart was too big for the lifestyle he was living. He suffered a severe TBI in 11/2011. After that he really struggled with coping & decision making. He was a great father & brother. All kids & animals loved him. He wanted his life to be different but felt like a lost soul. He never believed how important he was to all of us. He stopped caring about himself & life in general. He felt hopeless & nothing could convince him otherwise. Everything could have been so different if he wasn't hit by the SUV. His TBI was hell for him. He also had epilepsy due to brain injury. That was the event that changed everything for him and our immediate family.

The last day I spent with him is my favorite because he died 6 hrs later. I picked him up from work early in the morning. We went shopping at Walmart then to McDonald's drive thru. We ate in a parking lot in my car & just talked. When I dropped him off he gave me his usual hug & kissed my forehead. We told each other I love you & he went inside. I'll miss everything about him so much. My heart is broken without him, my oldest child. I spent over half my life with him.

Everything! His humor, the way he'd scare us, his relationship with his young brother and sister, the random acts of kindness, him doing things to embarrass us in public, his laugh, his jokes, his voice, the way he smelled, his beautiful face, watching him with his daughter & seeing how much she adored him, his presence, his deep conversations, his loudness. I will miss every single thing that made him Zayne. This ache will never go away.

As someone who got dealt one crappy hand after another but still kept trying. As a good father who loved his baby girl. As someone who would defend his family every time. As someone who made mistakes because he was hurting so badly inside. As someone who was worth having in your life. As funny, hardworking, loving,, loved.

Chase Edward Huechtker

Age 24
My beautiful son
Age 24
24

Chase is best remembered for his adorable smile and how much he loved his family and friends.

Makayla Shiver

Age 17
Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, Niece, Aunt
Age 17
17

She loved her niece and nephew so much, they were her whole world. She loved her family and loved being at the farm with her grandparents! She loved to dance and make TikTok’s!

When her and her nephew were dancing around in the living room. They both had the biggest smiles.

Her goofy laugh, and her just being here cracking jokes, and making everything fun.

Jacob Talamantes

Age 25
Jacob was a father of 2, a brother to Joshua and Samantha. My son.
Age 25
25

Jake was an ambitious young man. He loved life. He drew people in with his beautiful smile. He always wanted to make us proud.

Always coming home to visit.

His smile and humor…..everything

A beautiful heart.

Tony Lee Smith

Age 44
Dad, Husband, Friend, Son, Brother
Age 44
44

He loved his family deeply, was loyal to his friends, was passionate about motorcycles and being a mechanic, had a heart as big as Texas and could do anything he set his mind to.

Riding motorcycles in the mountains

Holidays, riding motorcycles, laughing and cuttin’ up.

As a man who loved his family.

Gershon Press Rapoport

Age 38
Son, Grandson, Brother, Cousin, Nephew
Age 38
38

Handsome, kind, athletic, musically talented

Someone who fought the grip of addiction for a long time

Jeffrey Lynn Council jr

Age 27
Smart, brother, caring, smerk, loving
Age 27
27

He was my big brother and could always make me smile.

One year on my birthday he was waiting on me at bus stop holding a kitten that had a bow around the kittens neck.

His smile and how he would always say how's my baby sis....

He would want to be remembered how he could always cheer people up and make them smile.

Rahsaan Blake Thompson

Age 38
Loving son, Loved by All
Age 38
38

Rahsaan was a deeply caring person. As other addicts, he was sensitive to the world's problems and people's pain. He always said he loved his Mother most of all. His father was gone at an early age and Mom and Son were tight as tight could be.

He walked at 9 months old and loved the Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park. As a teen, he would make fun of me because I couldn't keep all his friends' names straight. As an adult, we loved watching and analyzing films and just hanging out together.

He was my only child. I miss his voice, his hugs, his laughter and his tears. I miss sharing life with him. I miss sharing memories that only he and I had. No words can encompass the loss. I go on with gratitude for a son who left many beautiful, expressive notes and cards telling me he valued and loved our relationship too.

As a kind and caring person who tried to beat his genetic predisposition to addiction. Remember his warm smile and big heart.

Drew Douglas VanOrden

Age 48
A Gentle Soul Who Loved All
Age 48
48

My brother Drew was a truly amazing person. He was an amazingly talented musician who worked harder than anyone I know. He was the guy that would show up early to work and leave late. He had an extreme passion for music and spaghetti westerns. An intelligent, handsome one-of-a-kind free-spirited guy who loved God and his family. He fought hard against his addiction for 20+ years. He was a fighter and a real-life winner in my eyes who battled this horrible disease.

This is hard because I have many favorite memories of my brother. From learning Heavy Metal band info in the 80s with him to watching him grow as a father of three beautiful children always having lots of fun when we were all together whether it was jet skiing, hanging out, basketball games, listening to music he was always a light in my life. A best friend that would listen to anything no matter how ridiculous the conversation.

I will miss our daily talks. I will miss him giving me a hard time if I wasn't in the best mood, I will miss him laughing and making fun of silly things. I will miss watching him interact with his children and how that would light up his world.

I believe my brother would like to be remembered as a brave soul who battled hard against the disease of addiction. I believe he would want the world to know that this is a real thing and at times a very hard thing to manage. I believe he would want the world to know how easy it is to get addicted to opioids. His battle started with a prescription to OxyContin after a construction accident and the addiction continued to graduate from there. He was a great musician with impeccable taste for not only writing his own music but loving the music of others. He was a loving father who loved his children more than anything in the world. He would not judge and accepted people for who they were the good, the bad and the ugly. He would want this world to understand that addiction is not a made-up disease and something for most folks is very hard to manage. He would want better programs of recovery for individuals and families affected by this disease.

Carson Wampler

Age 24
a Son, Brother & Father. Brilliant, Compassionate
Age 24
24

such a sweet, loving, young man w a lot of dreams, love of life & so intelligent! he’ll be missed by all that ever came in contact with him! i miss him so much! there’s a gigantic, hole in my heart!

he loves to cook professionally & would always want me to assist him

his ability to always make me smile! he made me happy if i was sad. he made me hopeful at the times i struggled.

not in the way he was taken from this world… but on his love of life and his hopes for the future! it’s been 2 years, 21 days since my world changed! :(

Christopher Paul Caiola

Age 38
Beloved Nephew Christopher Caiola
Age 38
38

Christopher was the most kindhearted gentle soul, who put others first. Christopher was loyal and loving to those he loved and was trustworthy.He had character and integrity.He was so smart that he figured out the stock market and became a day trader.

There are many great memories of Christopher. My favorite memory of Christopher occured when he was young. I took him on a trip to the arcades in Elizabeth, NJ. He enjoyed every single moment playing all of the games and even learned to play pool.

Chris was not just my nephew. He was someone with whom I could talk to about anything and know I was never being judged. He accepted and loved me, no matter what. I trusted with my secrets and my struggles. I will miss his smile and humor and hearing about his dreams. I will miss hearing him say, "Hey Aunt Mary".But most of all, I will miss having one of the kindest, most giving and loving people I've known in my life!

Not as a "drug addict", because a disease does not define a person, any more than it does a person who has struggled with Cancer. Christopher will be remembered for the beautiful person he was and the lives he touched. He was a fighter of this disease, but also a victim and casualty to the opioid epidemic. This epidemic continues to steal the precious lives of our loved ones. We all must stand together to fight this common enemy until there are NO MORE innocent victims! I miss and love you!

Sherwin Leroy Hatfield

Age 33
Heart of Gold
Age 33
33

My sweet nephew had a heart of gold. He was always there looking out for his family. Family was everything to him

His whole life was memorable

Will miss his hugs, his voice just everything about him

He would want us to be the voice for him and the others that we have lost.. Its time to Break the silence

Mackinzie Eileen Fakih

Age 28
Smile that would light up a room, and contagious laugh
Age 28
28

Mackinzie was beautiful, smart, and loved. She struggled with SUD, but was determined to win the battle. She loved the beach, and spending time with animals.

Watching her dance, and acting silly, and enjoy life

Hearing her laugh, and seeing her smile

Joseph Ihsan

Age 24
Son, Brother, Grandson, and Friend
Age 24
24

Joey was full of life, light and love. He was smart-too smart, I thought he would change the world. He had a captivating smile, a natural leader. The sparkle in his eye would light up a room, his quick wit made sure you knew he was two steps ahead.

He was my everything. Made me a mom. Memories of his laugh, his eyes and joy keep me going now. He saved a hummingbird, loved his dog, enjoyed swimming and was a beach bum at heart. He wrote amazing stories and loved his video games. He was always up to something. He wanted everyone to be happy. Hated to disappoint or have anyone upset with him. I adored him and the first time he winked at me, to get out of something I am sure - we both laughed that he thought that would work. (but it did)

Hearing his voice calling me ma, mom, or even mama. Hugging him. And of course that smile and twinkle in his eye.

He tried and fought his addiction with everything he had. Over and over again. He searched for love and acceptance and struggled with guilt which fueled his depression and addiction. He was his own worst enemy. He was not weak or lazy. He was a fighter. But, overcoming addiction is HARD. He was always good enough - he just never believed it.

Kassandra Jayne Juarez

Age 31
Mother, daughter, friend, beautiful soul
Age 31
31

What I wouldn't give to have 1 more day with her. She was a spunky, caring a d very driven girl who loved hard when she loved. She thought of herself as an outside, however, she was nothing of the sort. I wish she knew her worth before her passing because if she had known how much we all valued her, maybe then she'd still be here.

When she came to visit me at work when I was on work release from prison. It was the first time we had really hung out outside of being incarcerated together images remember thinking after she left like geez that was the first time that we've hung out and just being so happy that the one person that I really admired that I met during my time was actually starting to form a really good friendship outside of jail I miss her so fucking much I need her so bad right now

Not having her to help me through tough times, not seeing her amazing smile, never hearing her call me 'hjelle bean' again.

She probably wouldn't . That was just her mentality...

Age 58
58

Wendell was kind gentle soul
Wonderful human being- he loved everyone.
Generous- was there when you needed him-

universal studios- California
And or vacation in Hollywood ,sea world
With our mom-

Everything!
The phone calls!! Him calling me sis
Or sissy
Saying how proud he was of me & my son.. his laugh , his hugs and telling me he loved me❤️

Always smiling, alway kind , helpful,
Beautiful soul❤️
Loved his family , loved his kids
Especially his grandchildren ❤️❤️❤️

Tiffany Marie Braithwaite

Age 35
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Warrior, Angel
Age 35
35

Tiffany was more then a sister to me. She was a legend. She was one of the strongest most selfless women I have ever met. She touched every single person she came in contact with and she loved endlessly. She was the light of so many peoples lives.

Her energy, her love, the way she made everyone around her feel seen and valued. She loved everyone no matter where they were from. She would give the shirt off her back. And she would made sure you smiled even on the worst of days.

Her best friend will be opening up a half way house but I would like to fundraise for mothers in recovery. Tiffany got pregnant while she was on methodone and when she passed away from a fentanyl overdose she left behind a beautiful baby boy.