My mom gave her blessing to share her eloquent and courageous words about Justin with everyone. But first, I want to thank my mother for all she did for her son. Over the many years he did things that were maddening, and it hurt her, but she hung in there. She stepped up to the plate every time and tried to help him. She was sweet and kind. She always made Justin feel like he was wanted and welcome, no matter how odd or broken he’d become. She NEVER gave up on him. The best way I can describe it is that she treated him with a love and faith that I feel privileged to have seen. Mom, thank you for being Justin's mother and doing it with such extraordinary grace and love. I couldn't be more proud of you.

We want to thank all of you for being here with us today.
Jerry and I never imagined that we would experience a parent’s greatest fear become reality when our beloved son Justin left this world on June 3.
We are heartbroken, knowing that the anguish and pain he was feeling led to his taking his own life. The torment he must have been living with is unimaginable.
Justin was a peaceful and gentle soul who suffered from the demons of mental illness for many years. He sought help many times but could not keep the darkness away. He was a master at pretending he was okay, and convincing people, even doctors, that he was.
We were blessed to have grown closer to our son in the past 18 months, even though he was thousands of miles away. Justin would call us regularly and tell us how much he loved us and appreciated all we had done for him. He made some drastic lifestyle changes, giving up drugs, alcohol, and smoking. He worked out at the gym every day and developed healthy eating habits, even becoming a vegetarian, and consequently lost almost 100 pounds. He fought the battle against his illness with a stoic and courageous attitude. We are proud of you Justin…you tried so hard!
We talked to Justin less than two hours before he died and we didn’t suspect anything. When we asked how he was doing it was his standard reply “I’m alright”, and he wished his Dad a happy birthday. To quote David Cavett: “Perhaps the saddest irony of depression is that suicide happens when the patient gets a little better and can again function sufficiently."
A few days after Justin’s passing, I was praying and Jesus spoke to me. “I have him. He is with Me.” Not once but twice.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
We prayed for so long for Justin’s healing, but accept that God has called him home to Heaven. We gratefully bear the Cross of Justin’s pain and suffering, comforted that he is now resting peacefully in the arms of our Savior.
Justin we miss you and love you and are so thankful to have known you as our son. You were a good man, and that’s the way we will always remember you. Until we meet again.