 HILLARD, BRIANA Briana, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend, was born on Dec 12, 1992 in Portland, OR. She lived in Abq from the age of three until her passing on Nov. 21st, just a few weeks short of her 22nd birthday. She loved music, travel and adventures with her friends and family. She traveled to London, Paris, Venice, Egypt, Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico. She celebrated her 21st birthday in Las Vegas and recently spent a week in New York City with her mother. An active swimmer and lifeguard, she was on the Sandia High School swim team. She enjoyed her years at UNM, was active in Greek life and loved her Pi Beta Phi sisters. A senior at UNM studying marketing at the Anderson School of Management, she worked hard at her studies and would have graduated in 2015. She loved people and was active in a variety of volunteer activities: she served meals to the homeless, delivered meals to the elderly and volunteered three summers at the Muscular Dystrophy Camp. Her outer beauty was only overshadowed by her inner beauty. Everyone who knew her saw her sweet spirit and enjoyment of life. She was spontaneous, adventurous, and loved her friends and family. Her friends meant everything to her and even at the moment of her death she was with the friends she loved. She leaves her mother, Marina, with whom she had the deepest bond imaginable. She leaves her older siblings, Sarah, Harmony and Mathias, her little five year-old brother Oliver and her 15 month-old brother and sister, Yale and Catalina. Her grandmother, Lauren Austin, was her close friend and confidant. Her aunt Julia was as much a sister as an aunt. Her grandmother, Joann, also loved and misses her. Her father, Michael, is eternally grateful to have had the rare and wonderful opportunity to be her father. She will be forever loved and remembered as the beautiful 21 year-old woman with the gorgeous smile - kind, loving and unsullied by life's heartaches and disappointments. Farewell, our sweet Bri! May your current journey bring you wonder and joy. We who are left behind grieve our loss but know our smiles will one day return nurtured by the warmth of your kind and joyful spirit. Your life has enabled us to be better able to love others and to live each moment of every day with greater spontaneity and joy. Thank you for the supreme gift of your love. Bon voyage, dearest Bri! A final farewell will be held on Sunday, December 7th at 1:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, 314 Lead SW. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Briana's name to the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
|
