Tributes

Remembered with love as deep as the ocean, heart-bursting pride, knee-buckling sorrow, and eternal gratitude for the years we had. Always with me in my heart dear boy,

To my cousin that left us too early, I love you dearly. Not a day goes by I don’t miss you. Forever 19 my angel. x

On April 8th, it was three years since we lost Manny to the toxic drug supply.
On April 14th, BC marks another year under a declared public health emergency.
Manny was 19. He should be turning 23 this month.
We remember his humour, his loyalty, his love of boxing and MMA.
This crisis is not abstract. It is sons, brothers, uncles.
It is Manny.

3 years ago my son’s behavior seemingly changed overnight. he liked to look nice, smell nice, keep his room clean, stay extra close to me, surprise me with little gifts, hold my hand every walk we went on ( oh how I miss that feeling) my baby reaching out and grabbing my hand not caring who saw or was around most 14 year old boys wouldn’t dare hold their mother’s hand in public especially not around any friends but not my baby he didn’t care he would tell me anything sometimes giving to much information he was the first to stick up and protect me in any way his actions proved the strength of his love for me then suddenly he became everything that he was not and everything he had always tried to protect me from he became unkempt dirty room disrespectful sneaky verbally abusive and then physically abusive being in recovery myself I knew why his behavior was so erratic I asked him over and over to tell me what was going on and that this person in front of me was not my conner he kept saying it’s only weed mom but I knew better. this all happened within a 3 to 4 months period I would Google search call whatever I could think of to get him help but sadly and unfortunately there’s not much out there for young teens I would beg and cry for him to talk to me and tell the truth.one day he came to me and said mom I need to talk to you I said absolutely we went out on the porch he said I’m telling you this because I trust you and you will know what to do I said ok Hun I’m all ears he said you have been right around me doing drugs I have been doing fentanyl I want to stop and not do it anymore I want to have a good life and not become harmful or homeless and struggling like the people we always see around us of course I cried and I was so proud of him through this conversation how he explained everything it was not a 14 year old boy it was a mature man so then acton kicked in he stayed home for the first week of detox I watched him like a hawk he was up I was up his only comfort through this was going for drives and I would massage his legs it seemed like we was in the car for that whole week for the second week I drove him almost 2 hours away in the middle of nowhere to my mother’s a little bitty town with his family all around after that week my mother became very ill and needed me to come and pick him up he said he was ready to come home but really didn’t want to and our other family members living there wasn’t able to keep him so I went to get him this was on Wednesday being home the first and half day was good but then I noticed on Friday he was high I became so very sacred, angry, sad, I went to my room and cried after a few minutes he came in and said mom walk to the gas station with me I said no I don’t want to be around you right now I’m scared angry and sad and he was the highest I had ever seen him he said please mom just walk with me again I said no he kept asking I said conner you can’t force me to do something I don’t want to to do he said please mom I will leave you alone after so I agreed as we was walking he reached out and took my hand I really thank Jesus for putting it in my heart to take his hand it was the last time I ever got to touch and hold his hand he passed away that very night I found him in the driver seat of my car and his father was on a church camping trip to get baptized I was alone for two days not able to get ahold of my husband everyone had turned their phones off keeping the moment for God my son’s funeral fell on his 15th birthday I miss him oh so very much

My Mom was a person who would help anyone. She had the biggest heart. She was truly supermom when I was little. For most of her life she battled with addiction, its something all the family had issues with. She at times seem to do better but it was always there and in the past couple years it got worse and she seemed to do even more harder things. Addiction is a true sickness. Once it consumes you its hard to break it. It takes beautiful people away everyday. My mom only had me , I was her only child she called me her miracle baby she was not suppose to have kids but there I came ! I had my daughter couple years ago and her face lit up every-time she had her granddaughter. I knew she was so proud. She also loved jewellery and anything to do with arts and crafts. One of her favourite things to do was to go up to chimney rock mountains for a day. She loved listening to oldies and Miranda Lambert. There was truly no one like Kelly Dailey. She also loved her purses and boots! If you smelled the perfume Bora Bora you knew she was around. I didn’t have a sister, I had a mom so we traded clothes and makeup all the time. After all these years its hard to accept that the addiction caught up to her and took her away. December 19th 2024 I left my mom that day in that house and hours later my stepdad found her. It was a stressful morning and she was getting ready and coping with the stress she went to what she always went to and in the end it took her. My mom deserved more than this life could ever give her. She is not labelled or defined for her battle of addiction she had. She was Kelly Dailey. I will spend the rest of my life telling her story and missing her. I live my life for myself and for her. She is my biggest inspiration. My angel.

My best friend from the beginning. You were always there for me. The world misses your light and laughter, and so does “Apples” the dog.

It’s excruciating that one night took you away from us all forever. I miss you so much. We all do. 44.44

As much as I hate the unknown of losing you and how it all went about, I’m glad I had the time to learn, be, and grow with you.

I lost my sister on 9/11 a few years ago to some sort of sxicide that was never really determined by authorities but later I had found substances in her space that I was unaware of her taking until months after she passed. By that point it was too late to figure anything out.

…The difference she made for the animal kingdom will never be replaced and I’m at a loss for all of ours now.

Daddy, I miss you every single day.
The day we lost you changed my life and me forever. I never thought watching you walk inside was the last time I would see you alive. I knew you struggled and I tried to help in every way I could. I know only you could make that change. The night I found you still haunts me. I was too late to be able to help you and though I called for help, and still tried to, it was just too late. I made those devastating calls to family. You were my rock and always by my side. My worst nightmare and biggest fear came true that night. This year will be 5 years without you. Its been really hard on me and our family. I know you are no longer in pain and that gives me some peace. I forgive you and know you did not plan to leave so soon let alone me being the one to find you in that state.
I have been and will always be so grateful to be your daughter. You taught me so much and my 30years with you was not long enough but I treasure that time. You were such a kind soul and would help all in need regardless of what you were dealing with. That is something I carry with me and carry on with my son who still remembers and adores his Gramps!
I love you always and forever.

I will never forget the day you left me. I am so sorry that I didn’t know or didn’t realize what was happening to you that morning. I am so sorry. By the time I got you turned over and got help it was too late. I will forever have that nightmare in my mind. I miss you so very much. I love u

The day I got the call will always be the worse day of my life. For you were my twin my ride or die. The day you left this world I lost apart of me. That can never be replaced. Its been 7 and half years and I still miss you every second of everyday. I know you are watching over us. Your son is so much like you. I know he misses you like crazy. Your daughter can miss what she cant remember, but she will always know her mom was a beautiful soul.

This year will be 9 years without you.. I cannot even fathom that. I still miss you as much as I did when you first left us. I’ll never forget you telling me the only thing you did right in life was choosing me to be your kids Mother. You said this to me while I begged you to get help so you could be here with us. You said you knew I could do this alone if this devil took you out. I’ve been doing it alone for almost 9 years. Kayden is almost 16(he looks JUST like you.), and Adalynn(YOUR ANGEL) is almost 12.(she ACTS just like YOU.) doing this alone has been one of the loneliest roads I’ve ever been down. The absence of you is felt in every birthday, Christmas, sporting event, 1st day of school, Daddy Daughter dance, watching our son go out playing running back and dominating(GOSH I know you would be cheering SOOO loud.) Nick.. you were right I could do this without you. And I find a tiny bit of peace knowing that you are at peace but I would do anything that was asked of me to bring you back. For me, for Kayden, for Addy. I needed you, and they need their Daddy. I love you and miss you more than words can express. RIH and please always watch over us.

Mom, I will always miss you.
I hope you are out of pain and in peace.
I love you and thank you for being my mother after all the struggles you endured. I know you did not mean to get so lost but I forgive you.
I will miss you everyday until we meet again.
Rest easy mom I love you.

My dear son Jacob was a very outgoing and loving soul. He loved to ride his bike and play tennis. He would take trips and rides without notice. He was a great friend to so many people, often making them feel inspired with his encouraging words. Sadly he was poisoned with fentanyl on May 30, 2020. His life was cut short at the age of 31. He is thought about every second of everyday. He is loved beyond measure. I look forward to the day when we will be together again. I love you very much my dear son. Love Mom. 💔

(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.

I miss my brother so much . I wish I could have helped you or saved you . I wish you knew how much I needed you here I love you forever . My brother’s keeper

Jolene truly lit up the world with her smile and everyone who met her felt her joy. She was a dear friend who was taken too soon. The world has not felt the same without her in it.