The National Addiction Memorial honors the loved ones we’ve lost.

It's just too painful to go into. Suffice it to say he was a good person, loved by all. Ian would give his shirt to help someone. He just couldn't seem to help himself. He always had good intentions to stay clean but was easily tempted. Once he was clean, he realized all he had compromised and it was overwhelming for him. I now believe his addiction started with two hand surgeries in two years when he was a senior in high school and first year of college. He had so much potential and just couldn't believe it.

An amazing woman. A beautiful, generous, loving, radiant mom, sister, daughter, aunt, girlfriend, and friend. I miss her every day. Her obituary (below) is loving and factual. Her spirit was - and is - abundant and never ending. Her heart will forever beat in mine!

Lori J. Fresh

Passed away in her home unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the age of 45 years. Beloved mother of Justin and Brooke Fresh. Cherished daughter of Susan Joseph (the late Thomas Scharnek) and the late Steve (Shirley) Joseph, treasured twin sister to Lisa Collins (fiancé Rich Young) sister of David (Jeannie) Joseph, Tammy (Steve) Zyduck, the late John Luebbers. Adored aunt of Ben, Jeremy and Melissa Zyduck; Amber (Chet) Kosciolek, David and Dustin Joseph; Palma Collins, Luke Collins, and Trey Young. Lori is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, family members, friends.

Lori was born and raised in Burlington, WI, and was a 1992 graduate of Burlington High School. Afterwards she moved to Florida where she had lived for over 25 years. In that time she earned her graduate certificate in Respiratory Therapy from Pinellas Technical College and also owned her own Medi-spa. In 2015, she returned to Wisconsin to be with her mom and focus on her own personal and physical health. While she battled addiction, each time she fell she always got up and never gave up. She had finally met a great person and best friend who was genuinely showing her the good life while being sober. Lori enjoyed her last months being lifted up, protected, guided, completely adored and loved by her boyfriend, Jeff Plale.

Lori’s mission to make it back to Florida to her children and her twin was a goal she had always used as her strength.

Lindsay Ann struggled with her disease for 10 years. She hated it and hated that she struggled. She was sober for over a year when she relapsed and took a fatal dose. In those 10 years she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She loved her daughter more than life. As we all know, the disease of addiction will suck you in no matter who you love. I struggle every day with her loss. I miss her with every breath I take.

Jason died from a heroin overdose. He struggled for many years with opioids and then heroin. Through it all he always had so much love for his family and would help anyone. He was all muscle but a mommas boy. A huge teddy bear with the hugs to go with it. He loved his baby girl and wanted to have a family. He is missed so much. ❤️

My son was a wonderful kid. Had a happy childhood, was loved by everyone who knew him. Was a great soccer, hockey, and lacrosse player. Even played college hockey for a short time. That’s when his addiction went too far. Started with a surgery at 15, he said that pain pill was like a lightbulb went off. Best feeling he had ever felt. Never knew he had this issue until a year before he passed. I know he tried to beat this and believe he was starting a few weeks before his death. He was a blessing to everyone who knew him. Was loving, kind, funny, and thoughtful guy. I would say one of the best humans I have ever met. I am honored to be his mom.

Steven was bigger then life...he had a big...kind heart he wore on his sleeve...he traveled with carnivals...he loved his job...he fought this disease since he was about 22 years old...he was clean for five years...going to meetings...speaking at meetings...he loved getting in front of people taking the stage...he had a real gift for making people feel comfortable...he ended up using again after five years clean...he had endocarditis from the heroin and ended up having open heart surgery replacing one of his valves with a metal one...that was in october of 2015...in December of 2016 he was in Miami and found out...on Christmas day...he would have to have another valve replaced from using again....on Jan 1 2017...he took his last hit of heroin...it was laced with fentanyl and carfentanyl...he was put on life support and on Jan 5...I had to make the worst decision of my life...I had to take my first born child and only son off of that damn machine that was breathing for him...he passed over...very peacefully at 5:31 am on Jan 6...Steven has two sisters...2 nephews and 2 nieces...I will miss him forever...

Brandon was one of my middle children (he has a twin sister). He was quite a character, known for his great sense of humor and his self-taught ability to program and fix computers. When he was 13, he was practicing soccer on the field, fell, and shattered his elbow. After emergency surgery to pin the bones together, the doctor started prescribing Oxycontin. I was not aware of the dangers of this drug and when my son ran out of his Rx, the doctor prescribed more and we kept filling it. This went on for a few months. I was naïve to the start of his addiction. I was unaware of his battle and life went on. Everything seemed so bright as he and his twin headed to college together. He loved his independence, learned to cook, made friends, and found a job, but his addiction was escalating. Soon he was injecting heroin and getting in trouble with the law. After his arrest, during his second year of school, he dropped out and eventually moved back home. His addiction was out of control and our family was in complete turmoil. Finally, we sent him to his second detox, rehab, and he did remarkably well. He became very involved in sober living, was productively employed, and eventually he saved money for a car, but most importantly, he was truly happy. For 2-1/2 years, he was clean and content and repaired his relationships with the family. He met a young lady, fell in love, became engaged, and moved out of state. He no longer had a sponsor or meetings, and became isolated. His fiancé became pregnant, but with relapse after relapse the relationship ended months before his baby was born. 2-1/2 months after her birth, gainfully employed and three months clean again, my son relapsed for the last time. The needle he injected had 100% fentanyl. He lost a 13 year battle with a demon, but I won't let this disease define him. He was an amazing man, loved life, sports, the outdoors, but most of all his family. RIH my sweet boy.

My son had traveled around the world. One summer he went to Namibia, Africa, to help children there set up organized sports. It profoundly changed him.
He had no idea of how gorgeous and talented he was. He could cook like no one his age and would often create his own recipes.
He loved his family and animals. Nik loved to make people laugh.
After addiction started robbing him of life, his shame and guilt became even worse. He tried so hard and wanted to live sober. He relapsed, recovered, and repeated. Addiction doesn't care what you want.
I will not let my son be defined by addiction. My heart is broken and the pain is unbearable at times. I will be Nik's warrior and do whatever I can to spread the word, teach, talk, scream about the evils of addiction.
I will never be ok again. He was only 23.

Jeffrey was such a kind, good-hearted soul. He could light up any room with his infectious smile and his blue eyes. Everyone loved being around him.

We miss him every second of every day.

Our son was a bright and shining star who unfortunately struggled with addiction. His struggle did not define him; he was a warm, fun loving person who had a great sense of humor and was always described as hilarious and funny by his family and friends. He had been on a wonderful path of recovery for almost a year and then God saw him struggling and called him home. We will miss his beautiful kind heart and smile. The pain of losing you is unbearable right now but we know you are with your beloved Mamaw and Grammie in heaven.
Rest in peace Marcus. We love you.
Dad and Mom

Ashley was my only daughter and only child. When she was 18 she met the person whom I referred to as Satan himself. He beat her physically and emotionally, he manipulated and lied to her and that is why she is no longer with her family, which includes her daughter and I. She was doing well, clean for 5 years, then he once again got the best of her and on October 6, 2018, I received the phone call that changed mine and her daughter's lives forever. When I look at her baby pictures and pictures of her and I, I think to myself...."did I actually have a daughter??" I have a huge emptiness that is indescribable but then when I look over at my granddaughter I know that she did exist because I now have her, the best part of her. My daughter was smart, beautiful, however suffered from mental illness, Social Anxiety and Severe Bi-Polar Disorder. We would talk about what was going on and how she was feeling (suffering), however she ended up not taking my advice. I know that there was not anything that I could have done to change things, because I did everything possible, however I wish that she would have never met him. The night before she passed away we had a good one. We celebrated her dog, now my dog, Ruby's 1st Birthday with cupcakes and dinner at her home. My granddaughter and granddog came home with me because she had somewhere to go. I would have never had thought it would be the last, kiss...hug... or I Love You between us, but I am grateful that it happened. I guess that's really all I have to say for now besides I continue to Love Her, Miss Her every single day but one thing I also know is that her struggle is over and so is my worry because I know that her and her daughter are both safe.

My daughter Krista filled my world with such joy and fear. The day came when the worst happened. She forever changed me and made me a better person. She left behind a sister, her best buddy, a stepdad, a grandmama, many other relatives, and friends. A world and life that she should be sharing with us today and tomorrow. A crippling anxiety, eating disorder, the disease of addiction all on her shoulders - our most beloved and missed Krista. With all of this she loved, she cared, she laughed, she cried, she tried, she succeeded, she fell, she tried again and again. Her favorite quote from The Little Prince encapsulates her so well, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Krista, the heart and soul of our family. This is who she was, who she is to us.

Lorenzo was an amazing young man who fought addiction for a long time, beginning at the age of 14. He did start his own business and was striving. He has a beautiful little boy whom he loved with all his heart. That was his true reason for trying to get help. He was sober for about nine months. He had a relapse, which ended up taking his life and taking him away from his loving family. Lorenzo loved helping people out, especially the elderly. He loved to be able to work in his community. He would give you the shirt off his back if that is what you wanted. He was kind and though he did like to try sometimes to stir up trouble, what 24 year old didn't? He will be sorely missed by his parents, his siblings, his nieces and nephews, his grandmother. And most of all by his son, whom we as his grandparents, show his picture and tell him how much his daddy loved him.

I mostly miss giving her big hugs! I loved to cook for her and have her over the house. I miss her interacting with her brothers, which sometimes carried on too far and I would blow a gasket, but I honestly miss it! I don't miss wondering what she was doing or where she was. I don't miss knowing that she was harming herself and couldn't prevent it. I do know from a strong faith in God that she is out of harms way, at peace and with her grandparents in Heaven. I do know that I have an Angle looking over me!

Chris was a funny, hardworking, caring, and a very social person who would talk to anyone. As a kid, Chris loved playing with his toy swords, riding his bike, riding quads, and both playing and watching both baseball and football. I met Chris when I was 18. For the past eight years, I spent my life with him. I watched him play all his jokes on his family and friends like when he would put a bag over his sisters head when she came home from school to scare her, or when he would call family members leaving messages that are unforgettably funny. He loved joking around and could make anyone laugh. He knew how to make me feel better anytime I was going through a rough time. Chris loved music. He would make sample beats with his DJ equipment and download any mix tape out there. It came to the point where we had hundreds of CDs in the house. Chris loved to stay up to date with the fashion trends. Whether it was dying the tips of his hair blond with his close friends, popping his collar, making sure he had every new pair of Jordan’s or wearing anything polo Ralph Lauren. He would never leave the house unless he had the perfect outfit on and was always dressed up and finished his attire with his Ray Ban sunglasses. I think he spent more time getting ready to leave the house then I ever would. Chris was also an animal lover. He had three dogs that meant the world to him and loved being around them. He cared so much for animals that he would try to take in stray cats but he knew I was not a cat person so he did not get to far with that. Chris knew a lot about many history topics and many current events going on and loved watching documentaries and YouTube videos about them. I think I know more about the mafia and Koko the gorilla than I would ever need to know thanks to Chris. Chris loved to surround himself with his friends. Each one of his friends he admired and adored them all. He loved spending time with them whether it was at a party or a backyard bbq, he just loved surrounding himself around them. Chris also cared so deeply about his family. And all he ever wanted to do was make them proud. Chris taught me that a loyal friend is worth more than anything in the world, and Chris was that loyal friend to me. He was also a loving and kind boyfriend who would always put me first. He was always there for anyone who needed help no matter what. He taught us all to laugh a little even in the worst situations because life is too short to not see the bright side.

I miss my brother more than words can ever say. My family will forever have a missing link and will never be the same. I will never be the same. His smile, his laugh, our inside jokes, my wedding day, the birth of my children, our ups, our downs, a childhood of many many memories is all I have left. Thank God I have those, but life is still incomplete. My heart aches every day for him, my family, myself. Life as I knew it ended on that day. There will always be a void in my heart no one will be able to fill. I hang on to the hope that I will see my brother again and there will be no more pain for any of my family. I look forward to the day that my heart can be whole again and I can have a genuine smile on my face. Brent was smart, handsome, funny, and educated, (I still cannot believe I am referring to him in the past) and had a full life ahead of him. I love you Brent, so much! You will forever be 27 here on Earth. I hope you are happy and at peace now. I hope you are made whole again and with our family that is enjoying Heaven now. I will see you again, Brent, to pick up where we left off and have nothing but love and happiness to share with each other.

She blamed it on grief of losing her father, but it started long before his death. She said she didn't need professional help, that she could handle it herself. Her addiction led to her divorce. Her husband just couldn't handle the demon. She was a 911 dispatcher who handled her job well, and knew the consequences of addiction. She was an avid horsewoman who said horses were her therapy. She swore she was doing just fine, but she kept her distance from me so I wouldn't find out. She was my only child, I trusted that she was handling it, and gave her space.

Then the phone call from her job. Did I know where she was. Then the knock on the door. She was found, but had passed away....

Robert Allen Briggs was born on July 21, 1959 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to the late Donald Rae and Aleta Jo (Harper) Briggs.

“Bob” was a child of a Navy family that moved frequently, but eventually settled down in Virginia. He was the salutatorian of his high school class in 1977 where he moved on to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from George Mason University. He later received his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech. He focused his career in environmental remediation with great success.

He was happily married for 24 years and loved serving as the provider for his family. Bob was not only a caring and gentle father, but he was generous in his time, effort, and resources to everyone around him. Along with his compassionate heart, Bob had a vast sense of humor. He loved playing pranks on his siblings, and his family and friends would easily describe him as a “goofball.”

Bob’s curiosity and eagerness to learn lead him to take on any challenge that came his way and sparked many interests. He loved football, playing racquetball and golf, and kept up with his beloved Hokies over the years. He was also a wonderful artist, creating calligraphy, sketches, and paintings that would surprise even his closest loved ones. He excelled in wood working, home repair, and culinary arts.

He loved riding his motorcycle, air-guitaring to classic rock music, cooking, travel, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends.

My grandson (who was more like a son to me) passed in California from fentanyl poisoning. It was horrendous for me and my family waiting days on end and not receiving calls back. There was a coroner/police investigation (well that’s what they called it but of course it went nowhere) and then transporting him to a mortuary so they could do their job. It was almost a week before we could get him back to AZ.

During this time I prayed it wasn’t him. I texted him repeatedly begging him to answer me! Convincing myself it wasn’t him.

The day finally arrived and I went to the funeral home. Of course it was him. The authorities had identified him from day one. I was so relieved to have him back. I hugged him, I cried, kissed him, talked to him; all the while trying to warm him up. This now has become my most vivid memory of him. 😢

We had an open casket/viewing so friends and loved ones could say goodbye. When everyone was gone I had to be dragged from there. I didn’t want to leave him. I feel tremendous guilt from feeling relieved to have him home.

Memories can be so precious and also so horribly painful.

At the funeral service, everyone had a funny Nick story to tell. The collage displays showed him with his daughter and fiance, making goofy faces and showing affection. Nick died too young; he had been struggling for a long time but would never have left his family intentionally. He had a gift for making everyone laugh, and his beautiful daughter carries on his zany sense of humor. He brought joy to those around him. I wish he knew just how much he was loved.