In loving memory: Brent Fredericks
Donation protected
My brother Brent Fredericks sadly took his own life on Sunday 9th April at 22 years of age. He had long suffered from depression, but was taking medication for it.
He was one of two boys and two girls. He was my second eldest brother. And while are all very close, I spent a lot of time with him because we lived in the same house and spent a lot of time together.
When he was with family and friends he was happy, very happy. He was many things: thoughtful, creative, artistic, cheeky, insightful. But the black dog of depression would often visit.
While he had battled long and hard against depression, we were confident that he was in a good place with his life. He had a full time job working in a nursing home, and he loved it. He was fond of the elderly residents. One thought that he was her grandson. So he called her Nanna. And after his shifts he would sit and talk with her.
We don't know if he was off his medication. With life going so well may have not felt the need. But he went out on a Saturday evening and never returned home. We will never know why he did what he did. We won't ever know what dark thoughts crossed his mind in that moment of time.
It has devastated my family. I can not begin to describe the grief. This was the closest person I've ever lost. And terribly it was from suicide.
My parents don't have the money to afford even a modest funeral. And my grandparents are retired and get by on a pension. I am hoping that family, friends of the family, friends of Brent, can give and help us with the funeral costs.
The cost for the funeral and burial has been quoted at around $12,000 but I thought we'd have a goal of $8,000. If we can make that, it will certainly help, and we will do what we can to get the rest, and also a plaque for the burial site can be organised and paid for later. If we completely cover the costs, it will be one less stress on our lives. If we go over and beyond that, any additional funds will be donated to the Black Dog Institute in memory of Brent.
He was one of two boys and two girls. He was my second eldest brother. And while are all very close, I spent a lot of time with him because we lived in the same house and spent a lot of time together.
When he was with family and friends he was happy, very happy. He was many things: thoughtful, creative, artistic, cheeky, insightful. But the black dog of depression would often visit.
While he had battled long and hard against depression, we were confident that he was in a good place with his life. He had a full time job working in a nursing home, and he loved it. He was fond of the elderly residents. One thought that he was her grandson. So he called her Nanna. And after his shifts he would sit and talk with her.
We don't know if he was off his medication. With life going so well may have not felt the need. But he went out on a Saturday evening and never returned home. We will never know why he did what he did. We won't ever know what dark thoughts crossed his mind in that moment of time.
It has devastated my family. I can not begin to describe the grief. This was the closest person I've ever lost. And terribly it was from suicide.
My parents don't have the money to afford even a modest funeral. And my grandparents are retired and get by on a pension. I am hoping that family, friends of the family, friends of Brent, can give and help us with the funeral costs.
The cost for the funeral and burial has been quoted at around $12,000 but I thought we'd have a goal of $8,000. If we can make that, it will certainly help, and we will do what we can to get the rest, and also a plaque for the burial site can be organised and paid for later. If we completely cover the costs, it will be one less stress on our lives. If we go over and beyond that, any additional funds will be donated to the Black Dog Institute in memory of Brent.
Organizer
Glen Fredericks
Organizer
Bar Beach, NSW