In Loving memory of a radiant soul who will always have a place in our hearts

My brother, Sione Tuuholoaki, passed away last year in August. He was taken from us at the age of 26 unexpectedly. He was an aspiring and talented artist and truly motivated to make his dreams happen. He was going to start his art degree this year. He was a very bubbly, resilient, wise old owl. But also a doofus of brother who liked to crack the goofiest of jokes. But we all love him and miss him nonetheless and for the rest of our time, will we want him in our lives again.

This year in August, we are wishing to commemorate his life and have a gravestone placed at his grave. One that really speaks on the level of his entire character and his passions. However, this has not been an easy task for his immediate family to raise funds as we deal with the grief of a loved one, it has stripped a lot of us of much normalcy and strength. Apart from the everyday challenges of life, things have been much harder since. So we wish to reach out to our family and friends, old and new to help us raise money to put towards his gravestone.

And for anyone who is grieving too, whether it be for Sione or someone else. I wish to share a quote from the Baha'i writings that has brought me comfort in these recent days and I hope that it will, too, bring you comfort:

And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty. The movement of My Pen is stilled when it attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so exalted a station. The honor with which the Hand of Mercy will invest the soul is such as no tongue can adequately reveal, nor any other earthly agency describe. Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance with the Will of its Creator, and entereth the all-highest Paradise. The Maids of Heaven, inmates of the loftiest mansions, will circle around it, and the Prophets of God and His chosen ones will seek its companionship. With them that soul will freely converse, and will recount unto them that which it hath been made to endure in the path of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Baha'u'llah