Judy
Sibling's Name: Jane
Relation to them: Older sister
Date of Birth: 11/06/1959
Date of Death: 11/07/1981
Their age when they died: 22
My age when they died: 25
Cause of Death: Automobile accident
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Whenever I ice skate and feel Jane close to me
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: We are forever changed, but I will always remain the middle of three sisters
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: Despite all that I have lost, I am grateful to honor my sisters and keep their memories alive, they are forever part of me.
Judy
Sibling's Name: Margie
Relation to them: Younger sister
Date of Birth: 11/08/1954
Date of Death: 08/01/1990
Their age when they died: 35
My age when they died: 33
Cause of Death: 20 year battle with anorexia/bulimia
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Every time I ice skate I feel Margie with me
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: Our lives were forever changed, but grateful to share them with my writing and fundraiser to keep their memories alive.
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: Thank you for providing a space and acknowledging sibling loss.
Michele
Sibling's Name: Christopher
Relation to them: Big Sister
Date of Death: He died in October of 2021
Their age when they died: 49
My age when they died: 50
Cause of Death: Complications from COVID-19
What makes you feel close to your sibling: The music of Jackson Browne, because Chris loved all of it. And, red-tailed hawks when I see them flying.
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: Chris was my first "mom-gig" even though we were only 14 months apart. I was there the day he was born and I sat by his side as he took his last breaths. When he died, I was already the oldest in my family, having lost our grandparents, parents, and aunts/uncles. Losing Chris left me feeling very alone in this world.
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: Chris had a great sense of humor and the kindest of hearts.
Laurel (Sissy)
Sibling's Name: Rob
Relation to them: My older brother
Date of Birth: November 17, 1972
Date of Death: December 1, 1996
Their age when they died: 24
My age when they died: 21
Cause of Death: Type 1 Diabetes
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Being around his friends, hearing people remembering him
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: I lived for my parents and tried to make up for his loss
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: His niece is named after him, he is remembered
Ona
Sibling's Name: Angie
Relation to them: She was my big sister
Date of Birth: July 26, 1956
Date of Death: January 11, 1982
Their age when they died: 25
My age when they died: 19
Cause of Death: Homicide
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Certain songs—My Baby Loves Lovin’, Build Me Up Buttercup, Stuck in the Middle With You, Angie, and anything by the Monkees.
Anything else you'd like to share: She was the first person I remember loving in this life.
Victoria
Sibling's Name: Premi
Relation to them: My older half sister
Date of Birth: 8/11/1950
Date of Death: 3/2022
Their age when they died: 71
My age when they died: 62
Cause of Death: Suicide
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Rocks and gems
Victoria
Sibling's Name: John
Relation to them: My younger brother
Date of Birth: 10/6/1961
Date of Death: 11/29/2023
Their age when they died: 62
My age when they died: 64
Cause of Death: Complications of cancer
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Kayaking
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: We lost our ‘baby’ brother
Lisa
Sibling's Name: Joe
Relation to them: My younger brother
Date of Birth: 6/6/76
Date of Death: 2/8/97
Their age when they died: 20
My age when they died: 22
Cause of Death: Suicide
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Listening to 90s grunge and hiking in the woods. I also hear a bit of his voice in my laughter.
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: It launched me on my healing journey and informs the work I do today.
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: I think of Joe all the time and sometimes I talk to him while I write.
Anne
Sibling's Name: David
Relation to them: My older brother
Date of Death: September 2008
Their age when they died: 47
My age when they died: 35
Cause of Death: A fall from a mountain in Colorado while hiking
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Being in nature doing something fun
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: How long do you have?!
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: I'm so grateful to have had my athletic, smart, generous, adorable brother. And I will never stop missing him.
Sarah
Sibling's Name: Mindy
Relation to them: Older sister
Their age when they died: 3
My age when they died: 13
Cause of Death: Tay-Sachs Disease
What makes you feel close to your sibling: My oldest son is named after Mindy.
Stephanie
Sibling's Name: Fernando Gutiérrez Jr.
Relation to them: Older brother
Date of Birth: 01/31/1981
Date of Death: 12/23/2000
Their age when they died: 19
My age when they died: 12
Cause of Death: Murdered
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Music, specifically Tupac
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: The family dynamic fell apart. I became rebellious, hiding depression.
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: Although Fernie left us I want him to always be remembered as a happy soul, always smiling, courteous, down to earth personality and all around great person.
Tori
Sibling's Name: Drew
Relation to them: He was my younger brother.
Date of Birth: 4/2/1981
Date of Death: 2/11/2020
Their age when they died: 38
My age when they died: 40
Cause of Death: Complications of metastatic colon cancer
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Watching sports, talking politics, Pearl Jam’s “Given to Fly.”
Anything Else You'd Like to Share: I wish you had known him, you would have loved him.
Rebecca
Sibling's Name: Debbie Gummere Lilgendahl
Relation to them: sister
Date of Birth: 10/22/1944
Date of Death: 2/22/1980
Their age when they died: 35
My age when they died: 27
Cause of Death: cancer
Anything Else You'd like to Share: Sometimes I hear her laughter, like an echo.
Jennie
Sibling's Name: Matt
Relation to them: Brother
Date of Birth: 1977
Date of Death: 2020
Their age when they died: 43
My age when they died: 49
Cause of Death: Accidental Overdose
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Laughter! Jack Black, the Grateful Dead, Cardinals, Orange Skies, hospitality, practical jokes, baseball, Golf and silly golfing movies, joy
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: It changed us, but it didn't break us.
Anything else you'd like to share: I hope that a day comes when no one loses a sibling to mental illness or overdose.
Meghan
Sibling's Name: Andrew
Relation to them: Older sister
Date of Birth: 08/19/1985
Date of Death: 05/1/1992
Their age when they died: 7
My age when they died: 12
Cause of Death: He was struck by a car while crossing the road
What makes you feel close to your sibling: My daughters and their goofiness, love of science, and curiosity.
How Did Their Death Change Your or Your Family: We went from a family of 4 to 3. I was left an only child for all intents and purposes though I was still very much a sibling*. (The * signifies to me that there is a footnote.) My parents and I are unusually close because of this experience. Our faith was also solidified.
Alyson
Sibling's Name: Michael
Relation to them: My Older Brother
Date of Death: He died in 1984
My age when they died: When I was 10.
Cause of Death: He died in a hiking accident.
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Humor, watching sitcoms.
Anything else you'd like to share: I think of him often and will love him forever.
Molly
Sibling's Name: Jimmy
Relation to them: My Older Brother
Date of Birth: September 25th, 1992
Date of Death: February 16th, 2014
Their age when they died: 21
My age when they died: 17
Cause of Death: Brain Cancer
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Listening to Classic Rock, watching his favorite shows and movies, playing Nintendo Games
Lynn
Sibling's Name: Will
Relation to them: Older sister
Date of Birth: 1977
Date of Death: 1999
Their age when they died: 21
My age when they died: 24
Cause of Death: accidental overdose
What makes you feel close to your sibling: Listening to music he loved, watching Adam Sandler movies.