Calverton National Cemetery

When Eliah was born I looked at him and thought he was all I never knew I wanted! He was perfect even if he had elf ears! I couldn’t love him more if I tried. He was my sweet boy always wanted to be with his mama. Who would say Jesus Mary and Joseph when he was mad scared or afraid. Who blessed you going out of the door and was always hugging you. He grew up too fast went to school made friends easy a real cutie! He was always the shortest and skinniest kid in class. His brother always teased him and one day God got even with his brother by making him taller than him  He was always very careful until the day he was hit by a 4x4. I remember that the firemen who took him in the ambulance said if he made it he would be a quadriplegic. That was a hard day . Praises to God he wasn’t. After that He became speed racer loving skateboards motorcycles and fast cars .Im proud of the man I raised he was loving sweet making everyone around him feel that they had all of his attention. If I would have known I would lose him at such a young age I would still chose to be his mother. I thank God for the years I had him and I’m grateful for all the memories I have in my heart. I’m grateful for the grandkids and the wife he chose for she is another daughter to me. Lesson learned is that we are not promised tomorrow love hard and as much as you can while you can. All you take with you is love and love never fails. Mommy loves you Eliah. 

My favorite time with my brother was those trips to the Poconos with the family pops got us and old school Nintendo system and we was playing nonstop till the point pops had to turn the game off himself I'll never forget that moment love and miss you bro R.I.P🙏🏾🫡💪🏾♥️

I'm Mariah Elis niece. I honestly miss the long rants that he used to have. When he would try and tell me how important family was. And how dumb everyone is. I always used to think that his rants were so annoying but I would give anything to hear one of his rants again 

“He lived with purpose, led with kindness, and laughed often.
In every challenge, he found wisdom. In every joy, he gave thanks.
He did not chase the world he walked through it with faith, wit, and a generous heart.
And now, as he returns to his Creator, we carry his light in the memories he gifted us.”

Vale wasn’t just my best friend he was like a brother to me. From the moment we met, it was like we’d known each other in another life. He used to joke that we were long lost brothers, and honestly, it didn’t feel like a joke. When we were together, everything made more sense like we were two halves of a whole.

Vale was one of the kindest, most caring, and strongest people I’ve ever known strong in both body and spirit. He had a quiet wisdom about him, the kind that didn’t need to shout to be heard. You just felt it in how he carried himself, how he treated others, and how he always seemed to know the right thing to say when life got hard.

Of course, he also never missed a chance to make fun of my driving or how forgetful I was. But the truth is, he was just as forgetful. That’s what made it even funnier. We were a mess together, but it was a perfect mess. A friendship built on laughter, honesty, and this unspoken bond that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Losing Vale leaves a space in my heart that can never be filled. But I’ll never forget him not his voice, not his laugh, not the way he always had my back. And I know he’d want me, and all of us, to keep moving forward with strength and love, just like he always did.

Vale, you’ll always be my brother. And wherever you are now, I hope you’re at peace and maybe still laughing at my driving.

I love you, man. I’ll never forget you.

He loved food and trying out food from different spots

**A Special Bond: Eli and Me**  

Eli and I had a special bond, fueled by our love for music 🎶. He’d play beats for hours while I critiqued every note, always ready to share my opinions.

One afternoon ☀️, after a few drinks 🍹, we decided to stroll around mom's neighborhood on Bay Street. I’d been pointing out everything I didn’t like about his music, so Eli turned the tables.

“You know what, Mimi? You’re a chicken! 🐔 You only live life at a safe line. You’d get a tattoo, but only if it was the safest choice!”

“I’m not scared,” I told Eli. “I’m just waiting for the perfect time!”

“Now is the perfect time! Let’s find a tattoo shop!” he challenged.

I told Eli he could pick my tattoo since I wasn’t scared, and I’d pick his. But deep down, I was terrified, so I didn’t go first.

Into the tattoo shop we went. Eli, fueled by my drunken suggestions, ended up with a Jägermeister tattoo that I picked out. I thought it was hilarious at the time! 😂 As for me, I sat in the chair but panicked halfway through. I wouldn’t let the artist continue, so I left with a tiny dot in a circle which she turned into a tourist symbol bull.

To this day, people ask me what it is, and my son thinks it’s a little piggy! 🐖 We returned home that day, and I joked, “So I’m still a chicken, but at least you’re now a walking advertisement for Jäger!” Eli laughed, “Hey, chicken! At least I’m a fun chicken!” 🐔🎉

Eli and his siblings Crystal Mimi and Chantal 

I'm the second to youngest of my siblings (There is 8 of us). I always knew I'd be attending funerals later in life. Never in a million years did I think I'd lose one of them at 25. And never did I think the first of us to go would be Eli. 

My brother was the definition of “big brother”. I don’t remember a time in my life where he wasn’t around. My earliest memories are of him babysitting me. Tricking me telling me our parents were never returning home😂 But always following up with the biggest hug when I would cry about it. Tripping me when we were running around the table but always following up with an icecream cone or candy (so I wouldn’t tell mom of course). Letting me watch tv in his room (South Park ofc). Teaching me the best genres of music and the best shows to watch. Always there if I was scared (I was scared of a lot of things growing up) he would let me sleep in the room with him or he would come to the living room and lay with me and watch cartoons until i fell asleep. Teaching me how to sneak in and out of the house efficiently😂 In the 2nd grade I lost a reading competition and he took me out to celebrate instead and we went to subways and he taught me to put chips in my sandwich and I’ve never eaten a sandwich any other way since. 

When Eli moved out I was in high school, and I cried and cried and cried. I didn't know a life where he wasn't someone I saw every single day. And I didn't want to. But he assured me he'd call and text and always come around. And he did. His first apartment he got he made sure to frame and hang up a photo I drew for him in his living room. But that's the type of big brother he was. Anything I did was a big deal to him.

A lot of my personality and who I am is because of who my brother is. My brother was the kindest most beautiful person I’ve ever known. He believed I could be more than I ever let myself be. He was the first sibling I called when I found out I was pregnant with Amaya because I knew he wouldn’t judge me or make me feel bad. He was the first sibling I could call for any and everything and he would drop whatever he is doing to show up and be there for me. 

When my brother was 14 (I was 6) he got hit by a car. A drunk driver. I remember my mom screaming crying and overhearing. I slept with a photo of Eli under my pillow that night and every other night that followed and prayed to God to please protect him. I told God if he survived I'd never drink. (I have kept my promise and have never had a drink to this day). 

I find myself now praying for the same thing. Praying that hey maybe if I sleep with his photo under my pillow God will return him to me. Maybe if I pray hard enough I’ll wake up from this nightmare and Eli will be calling me telling me about his day, and how he’s doing. Always ending the call with how much he loves me. I wish I could tell him how much I love him right now. How much I need him. How much I’ll always need him. 


JULIO E VALE

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