Finding Strength
December 2nd, 2007 4:23 am by Terri B.Hello everyone. Many of you will not know me, but my name is Terri Burke, and I was one of Jared Stene’s roommates. The loss of such a young, promising, positive life is nothing short of a tragedy. In searching for peace of mind during this difficult time, I began a reflection on Jared and his role in my life; the following post is the result. Please take it for what you will:
“As I sit here writing this I still can’t believe what has happened. As many of you know by now, my roommate Jared passed away Thursday night. His passing was unexpected and has caught us all off guard. I certainly never thought that at 22 I would be burying my best friend, brother, and mentor. Jared was unbelievably caring and kind, with the most amazing outlook on life. His dynamic personality and sense of humor just naturally drew people to him. He was the heart of Winona, and he made a difference in the lives of all who met him. The Caring Bridge website in his name has received nearly 12,000 hits, which alone speaks to how loved and respected he was.
I know that I will never meet anyone quite like Jared, he was unique in every sense of the word and it’s the reason most of us fell in love with him. I am forever indebted to Jared for the lessons he taught me and the values he helped to instill in me. I know without a doubt that I would not be half the person I am today if not for him. These last few days have been the most difficult and challenging I’ve ever experienced. Jared was such a large part of who I am, that losing his larger-than-life personality has left a void that cannot possibly be filled. I still haven’t fully come to terms with the fact that he has passed away; I still find myself waiting for him to walk through the door full of jokes and crazy schemes. Jared was the one person who could have made this situation bearable, but we must now draw on the gifts he has bestowed upon us and come together in strength to celebrate his life.
Your kind words and messages have meant so much to me these last few days, so I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for your thoughtfulness during this difficult time. Just know that, though I cannot individually respond to you all, the countless messages and posts I’ve received have meant more to me than I could ever put into words. Please continue to keep Jared’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers, as this difficult time has taken its toll on us all. Remember that life is fleeting, enjoy every moment you spend with the people you love, and remind them how much they mean to you each and every day. Again, thank you for the amazing support you have provided me with during this difficult time.”
