By: Katalina Carvajal

Deno was a great man. He was a great family friend. A great person that was always joyful and happy no matter what happened. But Deno died from cancer around 2004 and was only in his early 30s.

It was very emotional for me when he died since our families were so close together.

When I went to his funeral, I burst into a thousand tears waiting for something to keep him off of my mind. My parents try not to cry whenever they think of him, but the memory of Deno is just too powerful.

He didn’t seem like just a family friend though. He was more of like an uncle to me. I think about all of the times we spent together.

Like the time when he toke my brother and I out to an arcade when I was 5. When I opened up my gift from Christmas. When I went swimming with them. So many of those memories with him…

Julia, his wife told me that she began to see a bunch of dragonflies when Deno died. She calls those bugs his personal symbol so some part of Deno is still with her. I still think about him though lots of times and cry hard alone. I wish I could see Deno at least one more time.

The only good thing I can think of is that Deno is not in pain, and is in a happy place in heaven.