CNN iReport"He had such a great and infecting soul. No matter how long you knew him, whether 5 minutes or 5 years, he left such a large impact. In his short time with us he affected so many lives." -- James Cook
CNN iReport"We lost two of the greatest people in 2014. My sister Deanna Polovick in March 2014 to Breast Cancer and my mother Edna Gilbert in May 2014 to Atrial Fib/Dementia. They lived together after my brother-in-law Michael Polovick passed and my father Roy Gilbert left us in 1999. The girls enjoyed life together and helping each other with every little issue that would arise." -- LeRoy Gilbert Jr.
CNN iReport"Lauren was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She loved her family and friends, her University of Arizona Wildcats, her students and most of all she loved life. She was born with cystic fibrosis, had a lung transplant at 16, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in elementary education and most people never knew the health battles she fought every single day." -- Renee Creswell
CNN iReport "Abbey never stole the spotlight—she was the spotlight. Abbey had a beaming smile and a head full of blonde curls. Both were blinding and unforgettable." -- Stacey Samuels
by henry.hanks12/30/2014 9:20:36 PM
"I want to hold your hand one more time. I want to hear you call my name one more time. I want to hold and kiss you one more time." -- Shirin Nyman (@shirin_n)
by Christina.Zdanowiczvia Instagram12/30/2014 9:20:09 PM
CNN iReport"Arthor Curley, you shared your heart with the world, and you unselfishly gave us all a piece of you. We will cherish that piece forever. You willbe missed, but never forgotten." -- Sonya M. Lee
CNN iReport "Thomas was my son, my inspiration, my teacher. He taught me about selflessness (he never asked for anything), playing by the rules ('lying is way overrated'), and to focus on doing what is right even if everyone disagrees. Words cannot capture his spirit, pictures cannot show his boundless heart." -- Maria Coady Bedard
CNN iReport"He had a smile that left a lasting impression, a laugh in which you knew he was up to no good & a heart of pure gold. He blessed all of us with his 'Bill knowledge' and we realized over these last few months, he was actually right about most of it!" -- Leah Jordan
by Christina.Zdanowicz edited by henry.hanks12/29/2014 9:06:51 PM
CNN iReport"My dear Uncle Jon Burhoe: A proud and loving father (second father to a bunch of us), husband, brother, son, friend, neighbor, green beret veteran, and a dedicated ER nurse for many years. He taught me pride -- pride in who you are and what you've become and most importantly to take pride in the work you do." -- Kayla Fogg
by henry.hanks12/29/2014 4:34:45 PM
by Joe Camorianovia Instagram edited by Daphne.Sashin12/29/2014 3:45:46 PM
CNN iReport"The most amazing father, son, brother and friend is gone and we will always have questions as to why this happened … Depression takes too many lives in this country and not enough is done about it." -- Deanna Thompson
by jareen.imam edited by Daphne.Sashin12/27/2014 7:39:13 PM
CNN iReport"Our parents always said we'd grow up to be best friends, no matter how much we fought as children. Shortly before my brother died, he and I decided it was time we stop asking mom for updates on each other and just pick up the phone and call one another. I wish we'd had the chance to become best friends." -- Christina Anderson
by jareen.imam edited by Daphne.Sashin12/27/2014 5:43:20 PM
"While beautifully flawed, as we all humans are, my mom didn’t have an unkind bone in her body. She was extraordinary. But while her passing has divided my life’s timeline into two (I now see my life as a series of moments before and after that fateful February day) her passing has made me kinder, gentler, and a more loving human being." -- Ariana Sarfarazi
by jareen.imam edited by Daphne.Sashin12/27/2014 3:39:04 PM
CNN iReport"In June, I lost my daughter at 3 months old due to complications of a heart defect she had, hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I miss her so dearly. She never had her first Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthday. I am lucky to have the support I have from my family and the heart babies community. May my daughter's spirit live on forever." -- Tiara Fraser
CNN iReport"We lost my 2-year old cousin over Memorial Day weekend. This little boy was pure joy, a ray of sunshine, and one of the brightest lights of our family. The silver lining in our tragedy is that through organ donation, Yantz was able to save the lives of three others." -- Hillary Barnes
CNN iReport"My grandpa, Col. Keith O Parkin, was a hero on the battlefield, in his home, at work, and in his community. For years he had been taking care of single moms, others in need, and reading the mail to his neighbor who was blind. He did so many things quietly because 'it was his duty'." -- Brent Parkin
CNN iReport"I remember when I was sick and you would always fix some soup and some tea for me so I could feel better. No matter how old I was, you always treated me as your baby, your little grandson. I miss you granny, I really do, and I just want you to know I'm doing okay. I just miss you much." -- Edward McClenney
CNN iReport"I vividly remember our lively political debates when I was in college. I would get so heated because he knew everything about anything and could back up what he said; and while I would be arguing away, he would sit back and smile and say he didn't care which side I came down on, he was just glad I was thinking." -- Monica E. Shane
CNN iReport"Nicholas Kapusniak was a 20-year-old pharmacy student at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and was tragically killed in a random drive by shooting while standing on the front porch of his house. Nick wasn't in a gang, he wasn't a bad person, he was at home trying to become a doctor of pharmacy and taken from us in a random and selfish act of gun violence." -- Brian Carkner
CNN iReport"My aunt, Socorro Hernandez, was the epitome of a beautiful soul. Growing up in Mexico she suffered extreme poverty, but always remained optimistic and worked hard to make a better life for her family. To the world she might be just another person who sadly passed away, but to me, she was my everything." -- Maryanne Brackeen
CNN iReport"Shauna was the most open, vibrant, hilarious, stubborn and awesome young woman I've had the pleasure of knowing. She passed just 1 month and 20 days after her 30th birthday. Not a day goes by that I don't see something and wish I could share it with her." -- Jessica Costello
CNN iReport"My grandmother, Josephine Scott, departed this earth on February 23, 2014. I was devastated because she meant the world to me. She was the only person to give me unconditional love." -- Melissa Fazli
CNN iReport"He lived his life as if each day was a gift, each new person he met was a friend, and each moment was to be appreciated and celebrated. For Dante, being a husband and father was his most important job on earth, and he was extraordinary at both." -- Laura Brown