Andy "Rew" DeMarsh Love More Bench
Beschermde donatie
We lost a close friend recently to mental illness and struggled to find sentiment that could somehow do justice to the man, friend, and unique soul that is Andy DeMarsh. Fortunately his amazing mother, who has shown strength and courage that we could only hope to have under these circumstances, wrote the message below.
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My son, Andrew, will be cremated on Friday. I will be taking his remains to Florencia Bay, outside of Tofino.
I will miss Andrew for the remainder of my days. As will his wife, brother and sister, nephews and nieces, uncles and aunties, cousins and grandparents. He was cherished by a wide range of friends. Andrew had a keen mind. He loved fires, storytelling and martial arts. Throughout his life Andrew was a free spirit who was gentle and brought light to a situation. He let hugs linger and had a big, gorgeous smile that exemplified his personality. Andrew sought out kindred spirits who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. Delicious food and warm tea, music and dancing, film and anime, discovering tiny treasures and good conversation. Costumes and books were beloved. Andrew lived and worked abroad, enjoying the opportunities to learn about other cultures and languages; he reveled in the hot, steamy climes afforded him. Andrew yearned for a kinder world with more compassionate principles and goals.
Andrew had been incapacitated by the terrible pain of depression for some time. I am grateful for those who tried to ease this pain. Andrew died by suicide, believing he had exhausted all means of assistance. His mind was anguished, causing him to lose the ability to think clearly and robbed him of hope and confidence; filling it instead with pain, fear and sadness. He shared this openly with some; others had no idea. I'm telling you this so you will, perhaps, judge a bit less harshly those who have an invisible disease. Maybe you'll want to buy someone a coffee, hug them tighter, listen with more patience or share a meal of healthy food. If you already do show kindness, please know it helps.
Andrew brought so much joy and laughter to my life. He was a son who accepted me for exactly who I am and shared his thoughts openly. I learned from, and experienced a lot with Andrew. He left a note asking me to tell others who would miss him to go for a picnic, eat a bit of chocolate and drink tea for him. Andrew asked that people share more hugs and dance more often. We had a ritual of a short, happy dance - even over the phone - to celebrate simple moments of good news and little pleasures. He asked for a bench with the words "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". Andrew did experience true, deep love.
These are some words Andrew left in a note. I hope they comfort others. When you are near an ocean you can think of a gorgeous guy that we'll miss forever.
"Please cremate my remains and scatter the ashes into the ocean. I ask that you listen to the ocean's waves and remember that just as the water gathers in waves, rides to the shores and crashes, it returns then to the ocean. So do we gather and flow in one life and when we have found the shore, the end of our path, we return to the source of life and begin anew. Please pray for the peaceful passage of my soul into the next world, and know that I am at peace.
I now have no fear or sadness in me. I pass from this world the way a weary traveller falls asleep on his journey home. I've experienced much in this life and I'm grateful for the many moments of satisfaction I have come upon and for the people I have shared these moments with. I would like to be of joyful service to a cause that benefits the greater good of the world. Please pray that I’m born into a new life where this is possible."
This is my Andrew Rew DeMarsh during a springtime walk on a glorious day I shared with him.
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To celebrate Andrew "Rew" DeMarsh, we are raising donations towards his requested bench with the words "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". in Calgary. And any additional funds will be donated to Canadian Mental Health Institute in his name.
Please come celebrate his life with us on May 27 at 3pm in Calgary. Please see our facebook invite for location and details.
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My son, Andrew, will be cremated on Friday. I will be taking his remains to Florencia Bay, outside of Tofino.
I will miss Andrew for the remainder of my days. As will his wife, brother and sister, nephews and nieces, uncles and aunties, cousins and grandparents. He was cherished by a wide range of friends. Andrew had a keen mind. He loved fires, storytelling and martial arts. Throughout his life Andrew was a free spirit who was gentle and brought light to a situation. He let hugs linger and had a big, gorgeous smile that exemplified his personality. Andrew sought out kindred spirits who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. Delicious food and warm tea, music and dancing, film and anime, discovering tiny treasures and good conversation. Costumes and books were beloved. Andrew lived and worked abroad, enjoying the opportunities to learn about other cultures and languages; he reveled in the hot, steamy climes afforded him. Andrew yearned for a kinder world with more compassionate principles and goals.
Andrew had been incapacitated by the terrible pain of depression for some time. I am grateful for those who tried to ease this pain. Andrew died by suicide, believing he had exhausted all means of assistance. His mind was anguished, causing him to lose the ability to think clearly and robbed him of hope and confidence; filling it instead with pain, fear and sadness. He shared this openly with some; others had no idea. I'm telling you this so you will, perhaps, judge a bit less harshly those who have an invisible disease. Maybe you'll want to buy someone a coffee, hug them tighter, listen with more patience or share a meal of healthy food. If you already do show kindness, please know it helps.
Andrew brought so much joy and laughter to my life. He was a son who accepted me for exactly who I am and shared his thoughts openly. I learned from, and experienced a lot with Andrew. He left a note asking me to tell others who would miss him to go for a picnic, eat a bit of chocolate and drink tea for him. Andrew asked that people share more hugs and dance more often. We had a ritual of a short, happy dance - even over the phone - to celebrate simple moments of good news and little pleasures. He asked for a bench with the words "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". Andrew did experience true, deep love.
These are some words Andrew left in a note. I hope they comfort others. When you are near an ocean you can think of a gorgeous guy that we'll miss forever.
"Please cremate my remains and scatter the ashes into the ocean. I ask that you listen to the ocean's waves and remember that just as the water gathers in waves, rides to the shores and crashes, it returns then to the ocean. So do we gather and flow in one life and when we have found the shore, the end of our path, we return to the source of life and begin anew. Please pray for the peaceful passage of my soul into the next world, and know that I am at peace.
I now have no fear or sadness in me. I pass from this world the way a weary traveller falls asleep on his journey home. I've experienced much in this life and I'm grateful for the many moments of satisfaction I have come upon and for the people I have shared these moments with. I would like to be of joyful service to a cause that benefits the greater good of the world. Please pray that I’m born into a new life where this is possible."
This is my Andrew Rew DeMarsh during a springtime walk on a glorious day I shared with him.
---
To celebrate Andrew "Rew" DeMarsh, we are raising donations towards his requested bench with the words "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". in Calgary. And any additional funds will be donated to Canadian Mental Health Institute in his name.
Please come celebrate his life with us on May 27 at 3pm in Calgary. Please see our facebook invite for location and details.
Organisator en begunstigde
kat barreca
Organisator
Calgary, AB
Matt Stambaugh
Begunstigde