Support Joe Navolt's final farewell.

To be someone's chosen family is something undeniably special. That's what Mom and I were to Joe Navolt. He had been disowned by his parents because he was gay.

In September 2002, Joe needed a place to stay. He and I were already friends, and I figured Mom would be okay with it (surprise: she originally said no). It wasn't until I brought him to the house during Greentree Festival and gave them a chance to actually talk that she finally agreed. And it all went downhill from there (kidding!).

Joe and I fell into our respective roles as big brother and little sister immediately and perfectly. If you've met both of us, you probably would have thought we were actually related. We had SO many adventures. Random road trips, late night WoW sessions that lead to THE LOOK from Mom at 4:45 AM, binge watching Charmed, shenanigans at Dunkin, catching one another at the rave in a cave that neither of us was supposed to be at, and just all-around silliness at times. He immediately jumped into big brother/Uncle Joey mode when Rob passed, making sure that we were taken care of.

He knew how to annoy the crap out of me with the greatest of ease (knowing full well that I could and would annoy him right back). He could also make me laugh (and cry... Jerk ❤️). But most of all, he knew how to be the best big brother for 22 years. And now, I have to learn to live without him.

Tragically, Joe took his own life on October 23rd, 2024. As he had no living blood relatives left, Mom and I are handling all arrangements. This gofundme is to help with cremation, final expenses, and use whatever is left over for a proper celebration of life. I've also found that the City of St. Louis offers memorial trees for planting at the park of your choice. If anything is left over after other expenses are handled, I would love to have a tree planted in Tower Grove Park in his memory.

Any little bit helps right now.

Thank you from both myself and Mom. All donations are greatly appreciated.

-Vanessa