In Memory Of Amanda Lynn Daigle
February 10, 1998 – August 5, 2020
The purest and most gentle soul that crossed my life.
Amanda Lynn Daigle, age 22, of Trumbull, CT, passed away tragically on August 5, 2020, and left behind an incredible legacy. Her kindness, love and purity of spirit touched the hearts of countless people and inspired many to follow her path of love and goodwill towards this world.
Amanda was born in Bridgeport, CT, on February 10, 1998. In addition to being the best daughter, granddaughter, sister, fiancée, and friend to all, she accomplished so many things and contributed to multiple organizations in various communities. She graduated from Trumbull High School and attended Stony Brook University and Mount Saint Mary College to pursue a career in nursing. She worked as a Camp Counselor and Assistant Travel Coordinator at special needs Camp Merry Heart, a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at Pinewood Lake Association, a swim coach at Trumbull Pisces Swimming, and most recently, a nanny. She was also captain of the THS Golf and Swim teams, an altar server for both St. Theresa’s Church and MSMC, an EMT and former volunteer for Trumbull EMS, and an active member for numerous clubs. As a strong advocate for mental health, she started an Active Minds Chapter at MSMC, a nonprofit organization to help stop the stigma behind mental health and empower students to start the conversation and speak openly about mental health to educate others. For her last birthday, she raised funds to rescue, medically treat, and find homes for street dogs in Brazil.
In addition to her formally recorded contributions, Amanda fearlessly donated herself to this world. She was good and kind to everyone she met. She cultivated many friendships and changed lives with her tenderness, love, and empathy. She used to say her goal in life was to help as many people as possible. She achieved this wholeheartedly and willingly, as affirmed by the testimonies of her friends and family below.
Amanda had a fundamental role in this blog’s history. She took the initiative and responsibility to develop this website, sparing no effort for this project to finally become a reality. Although she was looking forward to seeing its conclusion and unfortunately wasn’t here to see it, she continues to serve as a remarkable influence to its creation and content.
Besides being my fiancée, Amanda was my life mate and best friend. These words will never be enough to describe her importance in our lives and the emptiness she left when she was gone. It is my hope, however, that they will help us carry on the beautiful legacy that Amanda left us.
Testimonies
Family
“Amanda, I will try to write down how much you represented, not only for me, but I believe for all of us here at our home. You came and flooded our lives with your simple and smart way of being. In a short time you won us over and we had wonderful moments. I don’t remember ever having such an exciting Christmas! You made me accept Verde, Paco and Rosa, but only later I understood the gesture. I believe that you were an angel sent by God to teach us something much greater that we do not yet understand. If you are watching us now, know that you were very loved and you are missed a lot! I love you ❤️”
“Every time I play the guitar I remember of Amanda in several family gatherings, where we had a lot of fun. Now, when I play “All My Loving” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, both of the Beatles, I miss her very much, because I remember her participating happily and helping me sing these and other songs at my son’s fiancée house. I didn’t imagine it would be the first and last time that this would happen. We had the best Christmas of our lives due to her excitement and joy. I am really sorry God collected her beautiful soul so early.”
“What should I say about you, Amanda? I am not gonna have enough words to express, but I’ll try… I’m gonna try to talk about a person who, in such a short time, had conquered an entire family – which, by the way, is not at all difficult to conquer. But Amanda conquered in a different way, making a person as calculating and methodical as my sister gets lost in the sentimental waves. And the family understood: Amanda is special, very special. I want to talk about a simple, very humble person. A person who arrived softly, wanting to find out about this peculiar family from another country, that suddenly welcomed her with such affection and care.
I think Amanda, you must have not understood exactly what happened (haha), but it was something simple: you were and are light in our life. I speak for myself, and for my family, because I know how well everyone was happy for the good you brought Sara. And Sara’s happiness will always be our happiness. It may not always be apparent, in the midst of this agitated, talkative and festive family. But it is in the midst of all of this that real intentions can be identified: the pure and simple happiness of others, which ends up becoming our own happiness. And you brought this in your luggage, Amanda. That happiness that reflected on Sara’s face, and splashed on me, and everyone else – I’m sure of it. Something so simple, but I don’t have the best way to translate into words who you were, Amanda. And as Milton Nascimento would say, “amigo é coisa para se guardar…”. I know very well that when I took the guitar and sang this song, you listened to it and understood a little of the things here. And that is the message I had to pass on to you, that you are a great friend. One day we will meet again, Amanda. Get up to date and say that “hi people hi”… Thank you for everything.”
“Amanda means worthy of love. You were one of a kind AMÊNDOA ❤️ . You brought love, joy, happiness, life and many smiles to our family! A full of life, friendly, caring and kind person! God has a purpose for all of us, and I am sure that your presence with us at that time came to teach us many things and one of them was love. Love for animals, for people and for living! I thank you for having passed through our lives, even for such a short time, you were unique and special. Today you are a little star who will always look out for us! Miss you forever ❤️✨”
“Amanda, unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to spend much time with you. But your light, calm and kindness came from the first second of contact with you and from afar too. Your affection and effort to communicate with the whole family was the most beautiful thing to see. You left a legacy of love, care and compassion. I am forever grateful to you for everything you have provided to Sara, my cousin / friend / sister who I also love very much. You joined our family to add, it brought lightness and affection. It was an honor to have participated – albeit briefly – in your beautiful journey here on earth. Keep looking down on Sara and all of us from up there. With care, Duda 💕”
“Amanda brought such joy to our lives. From the time she was born it seemed she always had a smile on her face. We can still see those blue eyes looking at us from a little girl with a sweet and mischievous grin. As she grew, she became a lovely young lady who was such a lovely, caring soul. No one ever felt left out when Amanda was around as she made all of us feel important. One time, when the family came to Florida and stayed with us, Amanda and I headed out, just the two of us, for our first Geocaching adventure. It is a wonderful memory as we had so much fun together, following clues and finding the treasure. The last time we saw Amanda was during Thanksgiving weekend in 2019. We remember her competing at the craft at Aunt Julie’s house and we especially remember her the next day, sitting on the floor making bracelets at home for those of us who wanted to wear one. I wear mine now in remembrance of Amanda. We truly loved Amanda, and we are so saddened by her passing, but the truth is, she will always be with us in our hearts.”
“Amanda is truly the definition of joyful love. She gave so much love away that those who were blessed to know her have so much of her love to share with others. And so, her legacy of love and kindness will always be.”
“Amanda was all about togetherness. She relished every opportunity to connect with the people she loved, and being with her meant getting to bask in her humor, affection, conversation, enthusiasm, and thoughts. She brought people close to her, and by extension all of us closer together. She left a legacy of love.”
“Thanks to Sara, we had the pleasure of meeting Amanda, an amazing, intelligent, cute and big-hearted girl! In the short time we spent together, she taught us that we don’t need much to be happy. She taught us how to make Christmas cookies and more. We had a lot of fun, watched movies, played bowling. Amanda, we hope that wherever you are, you are spreading this love, this affection and this joy. We managed to have good memories, videos and photos of you smiling. Because you are synonymous of joy and peace. Thank you for everything you shared with our whole family! With love Lili and Brenda 🕊❤️”
“To have known Amanda was to have known great love. Above all things, she was loving- to Sara, her family, to her projects and causes, to strangers. But Amanda was also kind, talented, hard working, brave, generous, helpful, smart, funny, and of great faith. She shared her many gifts without reservation, always making the world a better place. Amanda connected us all through her loving spirit, and she will continue to provide inspiration throughout our lives- that’s just the kind of person she was.”
Friends
“Anyone who knew Amanda knew she was truly one of a kind. There was no one like her. She was kind, genuine, loving, hysterically funny, and always put others first. She had the most contagious laugh and smile. She was a light in everyone’s lives, and brought that brightness wherever she went. The second Amanda entered a room, it was lighter and brighter, with loads of goofiness. If I was ever in a bad mood or having a rough day, Amanda could change that within seconds. Whether that be through her constant lively dancing and singing, her completely random and silly yet hysterical jokes, or listening intently to what was wrong and immediately trying to help me feel better. You could always count on Amanda. She had the biggest heart and just wanted to help others. She was the most genuine friend I’ve ever had. Our friendship was high energy and full of love. Amanda loved to play jokes on me or scare me, but always only in good fun. She always kept me laughing, but at the same time I trusted her with my entire heart. Some of the memories I will cherish most are the times we had long conversations about our lives and who we are, which always only bonded us closer.
I will truly miss everything about her, for the rest of my life. I miss the long conversations we had (even the one that ended in a schoolwide blackout), the many times she hid my things in places I couldn’t reach, the energy in which she’d sing and dance to any song and usually get some of the lyrics wrong, the times she’d check in on me and give me huge hugs, all the random FaceTimes, and just every single time we spent time together. I miss the times we’d laugh about our inside jokes, like lobster and mochi or the many times we’d call each other our girlfriends. I miss her laugh and her smile every day. I loved her with my entire heart. She has inspired me in countless ways, only a few just being to believe in myself/take care of myself and to fight what I believe in. She was so incredibly passionate about so many incredible causes and she continues to inspire me through that. Writing this isn’t easy, no words seem to really do Amanda, and the beautiful way she lived her life, justice. But, I know I am so lucky to have known a true angel on earth. I love her and miss her forever.”
“I think Amanda was a lot of things, but most importantly she was human. She let herself feel whatever she was feeling, she consistently extended herself for others and with ease, and she really was just a warm, sunny lady. She could make anyone laugh at any point in time, had a great sense of emotional intelligence and could easily read a room and tell if someone else was upset, and just led with her heart. She was proof that being beautiful on the inside and out can lead you to beautiful things. And that it attracts other beautiful things. Our friendship was just light, kind, and beautiful. The last time I saw her she had visited our school and she and I just sat together while I ate, and we just could not stop laughing and smiling and telling each other how much that we love one another. And it melted my heart.”
“Amanda was a friend to everyone, she always put others before herself, and she was there for anyone who needed. She was always joking around making everyone smile and laugh, and could light up any room with her huge personality. Everything she did, she did with passion, confidence, and love. For Amanda there was no task too big or small, if something needed to be done she would be the first to volunteer to help. She took every opportunity that came her way and gave everything her best efforts. It seemed Amanda wasn’t afraid to do anything, if there was something she wanted to do she didn’t wait for the right time or worry about what others would think of her, she just did it. Amanda sought out all of the good in the world and where she couldn’t find any and in doing so she spread positivity everywhere she went.”
“I met Amanda before even seeing her in person. Prior to that, I had never exchanged a single word with her online, but feeling and experiencing Sara’s happiness for being with her, I could already tell how much of an amazing human being she was. Then, I met her in person when she came to Brazil. With all her simplicity and a beautiful energy, she venturously accepted coming over to my house, amidst our country’s Carnaval, with people she had never seen before. There we discussed very controversial political topics, and with all the patience and love in the world, she listened to everyone and respected every opinion, even when she disagreed with the consensus in the group. Her maturity to handle the situation made me admire her even more, and realize that Sara had found someone that was as good as they are. Amanda will continuously be remembered by me and everyone else with love, affection and gratitude. Spending time with her, albeit very little, was a beautiful opportunity I was given. The goodness that she has awakened in each one of us will always be her legacy. To her family and friends: I wish lots of strength and faith to go through this moment. Know that we will always be sending the best energies to all of you. With love, Priscilla Sabrina.”
“I knew from that first day of being college roommates that Amanda would become one of my best friends. Before meeting her, my life had never been so full of laughter, pure joy, and long lasting friendship. She was kind, compassionate, generous, loving, and someone I always aspired to be like. She made each day a thousand times better with her infectious smile and wacky sense of humor. I loved how I could sing and dance with her whenever and to literally whatever song was playing. And of course, she was always someone I could have a good cry with, and then an even better laugh with after because of how she made the best of every situation and genuinely listened and made every effort to help. She was incredibly intelligent in all aspects of life, devoting herself to amazing causes, and to the people she loved. I’ll never forget the warm hugs, the constant check-ups, the amazing energy she brought into every hangout, the meaningful late night talks as the three of us fell asleep, and just how much happiness she gave me. I’ll always remember Amanda as my cat-loving, button-nosed grandma, and as one of the brightest lights in my life.”
“In the moments I’ve had with Amanda I’ve felt the kindness and joy that made you want to stay close to her. One of the most beautiful things was the spark in Sara’s and Amanda’s eyes when they looked at each other. It was a privilege to have experienced this love. Here, in Brazil, she found a warm and cozy “place” in the people around Sara, which she will always have.”
“Amanda Daigle was an angel. She was warm, kind, and she could get anyone laughing in just minutes after meeting her (even when she wasn’t trying). One of the best things about Amanda was her huge heart. Amanda made it her life’s mission to help as many people as possible, and she worked towards it everyday. Whether it was starting her own organization to help others with their mental health, or volunteering at the hospital, or just talking to a friend when they really needed it, Amanda gave so much of herself to help others. Amanda was loud and proud about who she was, and she encouraged everyone around her to love themselves for who they were. She loved to dance, and sing regardless of who was watching. She lived her life to the fullest without any fear. She was the best, most inspiring person I’ve ever met, and the best friend I could ever ask for. The world was a much better place with Amanda in it, and I’m going to miss her everyday ♥️.”
“Amanda was a very compassionate person. She not only touched those she came in contact with, but the world as well. She was selfless enough to put others before herself, & that’s one thing all of us can learn a thing or two from her about. I was her neighbor when she transferred to Mount Saint Mary College, and I watched her come into her own and find her place at the school. It was a beautiful thing to witness. She supported others & their mental health by starting a chapter of Activeminds at the college. Amanda was even kind enough to care for our furry friends in Brazil by helping with fundraising efforts. Making sure that animals in Brazil didn’t go hungry. Knowing Amanda was knowing one very very kind person. I am truly blessed to have known her. And I believe her legacy will truly live on in everyone she touched, including myself. She will remind us all that even if your time is cut short, you can have the biggest impact on this earth.”
Camp Friends & Co-Workers
“Our beautiful Amanda: God reached his hand and guided Amanda to heaven simply because she was too good for the crazy Earth. Amanda was truly one of the best people you could have known. Always willing to lend a hand with a loving smile and genuine heart. Amanda was amongst the few selfless Angels that made an impact on everyone she interacted with. She will always be fondly remembered and missed. I am grateful I had the pleasure of meeting such an amazing person 💚”
“Last summer, Amanda joined our camp team as a lifeguard and counselor. She was one of the first US employees hired, and was new to our team. Her energy, enthusiasm, and positivity were immediately obvious to myself, to our camp team, the many campers that attended. She was always willing to take on any task or assignment she could see needing to be done and when asked to do so. Amanda empowered herself and others to always stay positive, get the job done, and smiling the entire time. Even during some of the most stressful times of the summer, Amanda kept her composure in the moment, motivated others, and was always wiling to lift others up when they needed it. As the summer concluded, she wasted no time in offering to assist us with our off season program, often driving several hours to come work for a short weekend. Amanda’s leadership qualities were exciting to watch blossom and her growth into a strong and sustainable leader was a journey I was excited to support into the off season and next summer.
Sadly Amanda and I were not able to continue that journey together, however I know that the people she impacted will forever have those leadership qualities that she showed and demonstrated to others at our camp. Amanda will have a lasting place in my heart and in the heart of our camp and will be missed forever.”
“Not many people can walk into a room and fill it with warmth the way Amanda did. I remember sitting next to her thinking on multiple occasions if she knew she had that effect. She was soft and pure of heart if anything. She was a lighthouse hope for anyone lost at sea and her friendship felt like home for the little time I was lucky to have it. I hope everyone is lucky enough to meet someone as remarkable as her. She left her mark on the world and it’ll always be here.”
“When I think of Amanda the first thing that comes to mind is radiant. She would turn any bad situation or moment into a laugh and her light would shine right through. I’m convinced the world has gone a bit dim without her, but that’s just another reason why we have to keep her spirit alive. She will forever live in my heart and be a light in my path.”
“Amanda, you were with me on my first ever night duty. We sat on Maplewood porch, rocking in the chairs. With your warm personality and welcoming tone making my first night duty enjoyable. We sat on the edge of the spa after a few to many drinks celebrating and laughing till the sun came up. Your positivity radiating and your smile contagious as we all struggled with the long days and dark nights, you encouraged. Your kindness spread and your happiness glowed, throughout the summer. We are all so blessed to have experienced summer 2019 with you, Amanda Daigle. In our hearts and minds, forever and always ❤️”
“Amanda always always had a smile on her face when you asked her for help and never said no. She was one of the most reliable people I’ve ever met and she cheered me up when I was down.”
“Amanda was a beautiful soul inside and out…her laughter was very contagious and her smile was as bright as the sun. She would always put others before herself and made sure that one person who was down wasn’t down anymore. I’m sure she is watching down on all of us and guiding us through our lives. She will be forever missed and never forgotten. Keep flying high Amanda.”
“Gone yet not forgotten, although we are apart, your memory lives within me and everyone who knew and loved you. Amanda was caring, kind and always there for others. She helped me at camp and since we left I miss her everyday. Amanda was an amazing friend and helped me through a lot not just at camp but after. She would always put a smile on your face and if you needed a hug she was always there. I will always remember her. She will always be in my heart. Someone so special can never be forgotten, may Amanda’s soul rest in peace.”
“When I cried because I couldn’t speak English, she told me that my English was very good. Now I understood what she meant when she taught me that the best language is love. She loved her friends and I know she loved me because I was always her “beautiful friend.””
“I spent just a fews days with Amanda and one thing I learned when I was with her is that we don’t need to speak another language to see the beautiful hearts and to make awesome friends. She was amazing with us all the time.”
“I will miss traveling with my friend. Amanda was willing to do anything for anybody. She was loved by so many in the lives that she touched.”
“Amanda was a great person with a pure beautiful heart, always looking after people and having their best interest at heart. She touched the lives of so many with her beautiful soul and courage to help! She will be missed and everyone who was part of her life was very lucky!”