(4/30/78-11/27/25)

This morning, my aunt and uncle arrived at my apartment to tell me about your overdose. I am still in shock. The last time we spoke, was through a prison’s messenger… I told you, if you kept trying like you said we were, I would love to call you on Christmas. Now, I’ll never get that chance. I’ll never get to see your smile again, your laugh, hug you, or smell you. I am stuck with these memories. It hurts me to know you spent the last few years of your life spiraling… I know you wanted to control yourself but didn’t know how. I know how deeply you loved my sister and I, even if you weren’t good at expressing it. I know I was your best friend. I know as your child, I was justified in my anger, my resentment. It made sense that I said those harsh words… but I regret them so deeply. Your actions hurt me so much because of how much I completely, utterly adored you. I desperately wanted you to get better… and I know that you were for a while. You gained weight, you got your job back. It isn’t fair, but all it takes is one mistake. I want you to know that I forgive you and I love you so much. I’m so sad that you will not be there to see me get married or have children. I’m so sad that I will never get to see you live a life that isn’t dominated by shame. I’m sorry for the role I played in instilling that feeling. I love you so so much, dad. I will love you always. I don’t want to live in a world without you… I’m not ready. I unfortunately started grieving you a long time before you died, I knew it was going to happen… but I didn’t know when. After reading all these tributes… I see these parents, friends, and family members that have been carrying this grief with them for decades post-mortem. I don’t know how I will bear it. I need to live with the fact that one day will pass where I have lived longer on this Earth without you than with you. I will choose to remember you for our wrestling matches, movie nights, our games, and our love of nature. I will remember everything you told me to appreciate. You were always so much more to me than your addiction. You were my first friend. I will stay strong, because I know it is what you would want. I know it is what my sister and my mother needs in your absence… I know how proud you were, Dad. I want to prove to you that I really can break this cycle. I just wish you could have lived to see it.

A tribute to Ricky DiPaolo — a brother, a son, an uncle, a cousin, and one hell of a son of a bitch. Ricky had a sense of humour that could light up any room and a loyalty that never wavered. If he loved you, he had your back through anything. He was always up to something, always cooking up some kind of scheme, and always making life a little more interesting.

Behind all that mischief was a huge heart. A heart that loved deeply and fiercely.

Fentanyl took him from us far too soon, and the hole he left will never be filled. We miss you every day, Ricky. We love you always.

Jennifer Walker was a beautiful human being. She was my mother. She was the firstborn of her father’s kids. She was her mother’s one and only daughter. She was smart. She was gorgeous. She was fashionable. She was loving. When she was little, she wanted to be a veterinarian. She had a rabbit growing up. And when I was a baby, she had a dog and a cat. And because of her, that’s where I got my love of animals from. With my mom not on this planet anymore.My world has shattered I never got to meet her in person and because the illness that is addiction I will never get to. To anyone out there that wants to get clean, you can do this because I believe in you and I believe that you can turn your life around. If not for yourself do it for me, do it for Jennifer.

Remembering our sweet Misty. Her life mattered. She was important! Forever loved you will be!

My brother/ best friend passed away to an overdose and I found him and have been devastated! It was one of the BIGGEST TRAUMAS IN MY LIFE 🥺💔😭 BUT he’s in a better place now with no pain. Luv you “G” and will see you 1 day when it’s my time 🫶🏽🙏🏽

Losing one sibling was unimaginable but losing 3 has been an overbearing hurt I am struggling to cope with. I lost 3 of my younger siblings to drug poisoning in only a span of 3 years. I lost my sister Jennifer Felix on February 23rd, 2022. Just I lost him on June 16th, 2024 & just the other day my sister Jeannine Mattess passed away on November 1st, 2025. My family has not brought her home as we are left to wait for the coroners to complete the autopsy & toxicology to find out exactly how she died. This crisis has been so devastating it has been & continues to destroy family’s friends & entire communities from coast to coast to coast. As a person who is personally affected by this surmounting issue, I say it is time to put an end. I as a person with mental health & addiction issue see no hope in ending this crisis, I do however see a path forward to be inclusive around the subject of addiction, to come together as leaders as health providers as justice workers & social supporters & collaborate with the people who are affected by these issues. Support, inclusion & collaboration is one key tool needed but what is also needed is employment & training, peer networking, compassion & understanding.