In Loving Memory of Thomas Edelen

Writing this is tearing me apart.  Thomas Edelen, one of my closest and dearest friends, was accidentally shot in the head with an AR-15 by one of his acquaintances on 7/4/2020.  He was only 18 when he died and had just graduated high school.  His friends and I loved him like a brother and meant the world to us. He was one of the funniest, kindest, toughest people we had ever met in our lives.  Thomas always knew what to say to cheer you up, if you were in a bad mood.  He always had a new funny  joke to crack, or a hilarious meme to share, and knew how to relate to your pain and level with you.

He was a good soul, taken too soon, and given to the grave too early.  His mother and family are beyond distraught, having to shoulder this sudden painful news alongside paying fees for funeral homes, cremation, bagpipe players, flowers, etc.

No mother should ever have to decide if their child should be cremated or buried.  And no mother should ever have to PAY for her kid to be cremated or buried.  That's why I believe creating this gofundme was the right choice to make.  Together, we can show our support for Thomas and his family, even after death.  Every little bit of cash helps and any and all donations are greatly appreciated.

ALL PROCEEDS AND DONATIONS GO TO RACHEL EDELEN (Thomas's mom) TO ASSIST WITH FUNERAL-RELATED EXPENSES AND TO HELP HER GET BACK ON HER FEET.

--Jean-Luc Bourgeois