Our Daughter

A Tribute to our Daughter Daughter, Mother, Healer, Builder

From the very beginning, our daughter showed the world who she was — determined, joyful, and full of heart. As the youngest in the family, she never waited for permission to keep up with the older kids. One summer, still just a baby, she insisted on joining the others in the pool. Off came the diaper, and into the water she went — free-spirited and beaming with delight. That boldness, that love of life, has never left her.

She grew up to be a warm, outgoing young woman with a natural gift for connecting with others. Like her daughter today, she could light up a room just by walking into it. From early on, she loved teaching and working with children, which led her to study education in college. But life took an unexpected turn, and she met those challenges not with self-pity but with grit and grace.

When her marriage ended, she faced a daunting path — raising two young children on her own. But she chose to handle it with strength, compassion, and unwavering love. She made sure her children stayed connected to their father and their paternal grandparents. She understood that what mattered most was the well-being of her children, not the divisions between adults. And when it came time for the kids to choose, they stayed with their mom — because they knew she would protect and nurture them.

She didn’t wait around for help. She got to work — quite literally. Balancing jobs, parenting, and school, she trained to become a respiratory therapist, eventually earning a respected role in local hospitals. It’s no surprise that she thrived in a career devoted to helping others breathe easier — that’s what she’s always done for those she loves.

But she isn’t just a caregiver — she’s a builder. When she married her new husband, a man who’s become a true partner in life, they bought a house together. She didn’t just pick out paint colors — she put on the tool belt. She helped remodel the home with her own hands, shaping every detail with the same determination that shaped her family’s future.

Her legacy is clear in the lives of her children. Both her children have grown into hardworking, kind, and accomplished adults — a direct reflection of the values their mother instilled in them: resilience, humility, and the courage to keep moving forward.

We are so proud of our daughter — not just for the obstacles she’s overcome or the successes she’s achieved, but for the quiet strength she’s always carried. She is proof that love, grit, and grace can build a beautiful life — one challenge, one room, one heart at a time.

Mom and Dad