I am so thankful and extremely proud to have Nick as my son. He was an exceptional son.
I want to thank you all for coming today. The outpouring of love and support is what has sustained me through the most heartbreaking time of my life. I remember the day Nick was born as if it were yesterday. He was the most precious thing that I ever laid eyes on. He never caused me one day of morning sickness and after three weeks late of his due date, I never had a labor pain. He was an adorable baby and brought enormous joy. He was the reason for believing in life.
I never wanted him to get hurt and was overprotective. I used to cut his curly hair. After one of his haircuts, when he was 5 years old, he looked up at me and said, "I think you need to take me to a barber." Growing up he loved playing sports, especially baseball and soccer. He reminded me recently that he remembered as a toddler how I would hold my arms around him and we would hold the baseball bat together. I'd throw the ball up in the air and we'd hit the ball against the back of the front door inside our apartment and laugh. He also loved to act in plays at Redlands High School. He was very artistic, which also attributed to him being an exceptional chef.
Nick had a wonderful sense of humor and he would always be able to cheer me up just by being with him. He was generous, loving and a devoted son. My life was always easier because he was in it. He was a gentle soul. A mother is the happiest when they see their child happy. He enjoyed life to the fullest with his friends and through his accomplishments. As he passed through his life I am so thankful he received love and happiness from all of you. He had a special place in his heart for his Uncle Phil. They had a special bond that will always hold.
When Nick met Deanna they were perfect together. They loved and helped each other with everything. They have a very special love for each other. He lit up whenever she walked in to the room. I was able to witness their love and devotion for each other after we moved into the same home 3 months ago. Nick was so happy. It was the first house he lived in. He finally had his "man cave", which included a refrigerator stocked with Miller High Life. The three of us would have our morning coffee in our robes in the backyard with the puppies, Annabelle and Bronson.
Nick got a new red electric lawn mower and loved doing yard work. He really had a green thumb. He loved chopping the firewood we collected for free. After using the chain saw on the larger logs, he would use an ax. He was calling himself a lumberjack and even thought of helping others chop their wood too, he enjoyed it so much. He built the best roaring fires in our fireplace. He could even get the wet wood to burn. He told me he perfected that while in the Army.
He was getting A's in all the classes he was taking, including conversational Italian. The class was a challenge for him since his peers were college language professors. The class was formal and structured and Nick loved to help clarify the meaning of some of the Italian words by blurting out the "off color" version of the word. The other students would always laugh, much to his teacher's dismay.
Although Nick's passing was sudden and came as a shock to all of us, I know in my heart that he would not want us to spend forever grieving. Rather, Nick would want us all to remember our favorite moments spent with him. He blessed the lives of those around him. He was a loyal friend and generous to all. He was a wonderful gift to this world.
A special gratitude goes out to Deanna, Wendy, Deanine, Len, Tyler, Chelsea, Bryce, and CJ Sinisgalli, Shalia Slayton, Melissa, Nate, Ellen, Leo and Juliana Schouest, Nick, Bunny and Rick Malone, Bill, Patty, Don and Hilary Craw, Scott Brandt, Wes Vento, Tom Nolin, Cory and Emily Fitzgerald, Mike and Scott, James and Janelle Miller, Pat McCarty, Darla and Yves Ostor, Maureen Palmese, and to Cody Herrin, a fellow Army Ranger. From New York; the Fanning family, Jones family, Jimmy Benedetto, Kempey family, Gary Zwick, Cindy and Dave Greenberg, Lauren, Nick Lorenzen, Vinny DeVita, Tim, Laura Franco, Dina Rabinovits, Kathy and Jeff Sprenger. You all have been a Godsend and incredible.
Nick passed away on a full moon, so whenever you see a full moon it will be a reminder of how full and bright his life was. Son, your humor, dedication and bravery made you great. Now, with your transition to a greater place, allow it to make us great. I love you with all my heart.
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