One Year

Today mark's a year. Every day the treasure box of love and memories gets smaller and easier to carry. But I will carry it for the rest of my life with pride. Today I also think of all of you who love Devon as I do and hope you are surviving the journey. I am with all of you in this day of remembering and honoring Devon.

Sarah Carrade

My fellow wanderlust, Devon.

In the past few months, I have often turned to Devon's blog to remember my dear friend and it has brought me great comfort to see how she touched our lives. In each of the entries, my friendship with Devon was reflected in others' stories. She touched my life in many of the same ways that she touched others.

In Devon, I had friend who shared the same passion for travel and interest in the world. When I first met Devon in Santa Barbara, we were immediately connected by our attempt to learn Spanish (she succeeded!) and our desire to travel. Two girls from the Central Valley, ready to conquer the world! We joked that we were both racing to get European Union passports so we could "live the European life". When she told me she was engaged to Noureddin, I joked with her that she must have been sleeping in our Global Studies classes at UCSB because Morocco wasn't in the European Union! And later, when I emailed her to say I was marrying a Scotsman, her reply was "You won!!".

Over the years and despite thousands of miles in between us, we remained good friends, sharing stories or silly pieces of information. Countless times over the past few months, while adjusting to my new life in Russia, I've stopped to think "Devon would find this hilarious!"

As we begin a new year and Devon's birthday approaches, we can all remember the passion and light Devon brought to our lives. What she taught us about true friendship and living life to the fullest, is something I will never forget about my fellow wanderlust.

The Last Ride

It has been three months now since we lost Devon. I have been unable to put into words anything remotely close to how I've been feeling. This weekend, however, inspired by the Red Devon Daffodils that Julie planted in her honor and are now sprouting up on my balcony, I was inspired to try to describe (with some poetic license and a few miss-sequencing of events!) my experience during Devon's last days. I've posted this on my blog and hope it speaks somewhat for you, too. Ironically, since Devon set this blog up for me and showed me how to use it, I feel guilty for not using it lately. The muse just hasn't been speaking to me. At least I've found the words to give her a little to smile about here at the end of this most horrible of years.

http://tambourineman7.blogspot.com/

We all are seeking our own way to get our arms around the meaning of Devon's loss and move on with it, ever so slowly and carefully. one of my ways is to write about it. My next effort will be to move into a "garden," again an inspiration given to me by Julie. Two days after Devon died, Julie, Jen, Cory, Asako and I went to Descanso Gardens in Pasadena. We found freh air, sunlight, ponds, fish, many beautiful flowers and plants. Jen took a picture of a poem engraved on a bronze plaque. It has been lingering in my mind ever since Julie emailed it to me. I think I can form some feelings around this.

Meanwhile, Asako and I wish you all a Good New Year. We keep talking of all the love and support you've shown for Devon this past year and a half and are permanently grateful. Can't say it enough! Asako will be working in Tokyo January 13 through the 27th. I'll be busy with classes, keeping the house dusted, playing at golf, and growing stronger in mind, body and spirit...I hope!

Love to All,

Lou

Anathea Gordon

Ruthie, thank you so much for the opportunity to express our thoughts and feelings about Devon. If all the people who knew and loved Devon took the opportunity to share their feelings and memories at “the celebration of her life”, we would be there for hours-laughing and crying. I have been blessed to have known Devon since she was a baby, really. Our mothers met when her older brother Cory and I were newborn infants. My earliest memory of Devon was on a trip my family took to visit her family in Clovis. We were hanging out in their apartment, having dinner one night. She must have been pretty young, because, during the dinner preparation she asked “what’s for ‘zert’ mommy”. Chantal and I still talk about how cute that was.
The next time I remember seeing her was on a trip I took up to Santa Barbara for a visit one weekend, it was before her trip to Europe, we had a fun time hanging out at one of the local bars. It was amazing b/c we had such a great time that weekend. It was as if it had only been a week or so (versus the years it had actually been).

I can remember when I got the news about the cancer diagnosis. I was in total shock! I took a trip to Long Beach w/my mom to visit her in the hospital. I think it was the 1st day after her 1st surgery. I had spoken to her on the phone and had asked her if she liked sushi (which she had). When my mom and I entered the hospital room (she had been out of the room at the time for PT or OT) neither one of us knew what to expect. About 10 min later, she walked in (with minimal assistance) w/her walker w/a HUGE smile on her face. We asked how she was feeling, she said “pretty well”. We dined on sushi and Snapple, and painted her finger nails. It was a good visit.

I came out several times to visit her at her Long Beach place (the apt they moved into after the fire). On one occasion, (after the 2nd surgery), we walked across the street to the restaurant for lunch. I remember asking her how she was feeling-physically. She said “pretty well, my balance is off a bit, but ok”. She always had a smile on her face. In typical-strong willed Devon style-she refused any help offered, and we walked across the street for lunch. I think that was the same visit we hung out and watched “American Idol” on the DVR. She was SO excited about the show, she LOVED it. ; ) (which was fun for me to see b/c I wasn’t all that into it). No matter what she was going through (between the cancer and the apartment issues) her spirits were ALWAYS high. Several times I was able to help her out (at least she was nice enough to say I helped J) with her diagnosis. She would ask me about medication regimens or experimental treatment the doctors were looking at and the results of her frequent lab work. Only once did I ever see the effects of the cancer hit her emotionally. On one of my visits in Long Beach (as she worked on her laptop-getting herself back to work so that she could maintain a level of normalcy and her medical insurance), she spoke with her neurologist, who gave her the results of the most recent MRI. Devon cried for just a bit, and then shook it off.

The last time I saw Devon was about 1.5 months or so ago. I went out to Long Beach for one of our lunches, we went to some “Teriaki place” she said was good. The thing that NEVER ceased to amaze me was how GREAT her memory was-even after several brain surgeries. She directed us directly to the restaurant as I drove and got us back, I (half) joked that her memory was better than mine was, and I didn’t even have an excuse. We had a good time talking about our families and the stresses of life. I still can’t believe she’s gone, I’m going to miss her regular blogs and our lunches, her spirit and her smile and her enthusiasm for life and American Idol.

God Bless.

Devon: The Summit of Life

It is neither the highest nor the lowest of our successes or failures that measure our life, but rather our staying the course in loving, in caring, in sharing and in giving that defines our place in the human drama. Devon did just that. She was content in finding peace within herself, knowing The Maker was well pleased.

Throughout her life, she always sought and seized opportunities to better herself and those around her. Driven by a powerful, positive spirit, deep-seeded within her, she was able to both understand and blend logic and realization in a visionary way so few can do. The enormity of her short life, the impact she had on others, her endless well of spiritual energy—all were evangelistic-like, revealing a complete commitment to both create or take on tasks, whether personal or in her chosen field of education. Devon had a gifted-way of seeing end results, the possibilities down the road, undaunted by the obstacles in her path or other events that might undermine an outcome.

Devon was The Summit of Life. She lived as The Power Beyond asks us to live—loving each other, caring, sharing and giving. She stayed the course to her journey’s end. On bended knee, bidding Devon farewell, I pray that her spirit will remain with us, now and forever.

Jeremiah Anthony Markert
Uncle

Michelle Syverson

What a lovely young woman.

I came across Devon's obituary last weekend, was touched by such a young woman's tragic death and decided I would check out her blog...mostly out of curiosity. Being a fellow blogger I was interested in seeing Devon's and little did I know it would be like opening a good book.

What an incredible young woman who touched more lives than we can probably count. Through her love and passion for her friends and work she has left a behind a legacy.

As I read the numerous entries I found myself laughing and crying. I also was compelled to check her blog each day to see and view more of her incredibly short but well live life. It strikes me as odd that now I feel like she is a friend, probably because she could have easily been a friend of mine.

I find it heartwarming and sad at the same time that it can take the death of someone close to us to put our lives in perspective and look closely at what we value. Often the death of someone allows us an opportunity to dig deep inside ourselves and find what it was we really loved and valued about that person. Hopefully some of us now will take the time to tell those in our lives who are living how we truly feel...instead of waiting until they are gone.

With all this said I just want to pass along my sincere condolences to all who new this young lady and to thank those who are keeping her blog alive as a tribute to her. She was blessed to have so many loving people in her life.

May God Bless You!

Karla Frizler Octavio's Eulogy

I’ll Never Forget You, Devon
By Karla Frizler Octavio

I am one of Devon’s colleagues and good friends. We taught together at Torrance Adult School, and I have been the liaison between Devon’s family and friends and the school throughout her illness. Something I’ve heard many times from Devon’s loved ones is how much they appreciate the love and support of Devon’s co-workers and students. I would just like to say on behalf of everyone at Torrance Adult School and TIMAC, it has been our pleasure to do anything in our power to help Devon and her family through this difficult time. And that love and support doesn’t end here. We are always here for you, whatever you need.

I remember the first time I met Devon. We had both just started working at Torrance, and she subbed for my Instructional Assistant. With very little guidance, she stepped into the classroom and immediately began helping students. She was warm and intelligent and creative. The students (and I) responded to her charm immediately.

Over the years, Devon & I exchanged ideas on an almost daily basis. Even when she was unable to work, she would email me ideas for class activities, or suggest topics for our class blog. I used every single one. We had such grand plans for our students, everything from interactive whiteboards in the classroom, to a “quad” or central gathering place on campus where students could meet and practice their English outside of the classroom.

One idea we were very excited about was creating an orientation video for new students. We wanted to make sure every student felt welcomed, and got the information they needed about the ESL program and the school. When Devon returned to work in May, her main focus was the Orientation. She did a great job, and in fact it is now installed on computers throughout the ESL classrooms, computer labs and registration areas. I will work with our students to make sure the orientation is updated regularly, and of course, that it is dedicated to Devon.

One of my favorite things about the video is that Devon had her students do the translations into various languages. It was a wonderful way for the students to give back to the program, and it was a nice way to honor the students’ accomplishments with the English language.

Devon was an old soul in the body of a beautiful young woman, wise beyond her years--but there were times when she reminded me of her age. We used to watch American Idol and send text messages to each other throughout the show. One time, Hall & Oates were featured. The next day, Devon asked me, “Who were those guys?” I asked, “What year were you born?” She said “1980,” and I told her I was 13 that year, listening to my Hall & Oates albums. I made her a Hall & Oates CD, and she made me a CD of Daughtry. It was a wonderful exchange.

Though we began our relationship with me as her mentor, the tables soon turned. I realized early on that I had a lot to learn from this amazing young woman. Devon was not only my colleague, but my good friend as well. In fact, she became like a sister to me. We became especially close when she filled in for me during my maternity leave. She would make a personal visit to my home to ask me any questions she had, which was so thoughtful. When I returned to work, she had made a collage of family pictures for me to keep in my office, because she knew I would miss my baby.

I was able to really focus on and enjoy my daughter because I knew Devon was taking care of business. And I tried my best to return that favor over the last year and a half. I wanted to make sure Devon could focus on getting healthy and spending time with her family, not worrying about work.

Just before her first surgery, Devon asked me to come to the hospital and see her. Knowing her work ethic, I asked if there were anything she needed me to take care of at work. She told me to get out a pen and piece of paper. I covered both sides with feverish notes about projects I didn’t even realize she was involved in.


I also tried to help Devon outside of work. In early September, my husband and I were thrilled that Devon and Noureddin could use our timeshare in Newport Coast. It was an opportunity for them to have a vacation, to just be together … in the sun … with good friends. We’re so glad they had that special time.

The most important thing I learned from Devon is to look at opportunities, and not obstacles. To see possibilities, not potential problems. This is not my nature, but it was certainly Devon’s nature … to always see the positive and the good. I will do my best to live up to her example, and to pass along that positive spirit to my students and especially my daughter. I will never let them forget our precious Devon.

When Devon’s mom met my daughter for the first time, she said, “Mia is just like Devon!” My heart filled with pride. If Mia turns out to be half the woman Devon was, she will have an incredible life and make a tremendous impact on people, just like her “Auntie Devon.”

I feel so blessed, so grateful, to have spent some time with Devon just before she passed. It was a beautiful gift. We laughed a lot and talked about silly things like Jell-O, having no idea it would be our last conversation.

Devon, I love and miss you very much. I will never forget you …