Sharleen's Eulogy

Firstly, I thank each and every one of you for being present here, and on other continents, over Easter and Passover – nothing brought out Kyle’s brilliant sunshine smile more than being surrounded by people whom he loved intensely, and who loved him back. I borrowed two lines from the poem INVICTUS which means “Unconquerable” – it was a favorite quote of Nelson Mandela’s while he was wrongly imprisoned for almost 30 years on Robben Island —it also best sums up the way Kyle insisted on living every day: “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” Family and friends, both local and abroad, know how exuberant and irrepressible Kyle was. He packed more life into his 16 years than most people do in 60. Please remember and celebrate that loving and fearless force of nature with me today and in the future. It was in this Temple, where my 4th of July baby was named Chaim (meaning Life), that I first learned about Jewish mysticism. In fact, I was pregnant with Kyle while I was studying the Zohar (Book of Enlightenment) here. Very loosely translated the belief is that we are all fragments of an infinite Source of Light that exploded: the brightest of these lights burn fastest as they remember, and yearn to return to, that blissful Oneness. I am at perfect peace that Kyle is in this warm and ecstatic state with his beloved PJ, who always protected him as an older brother would. Shalom for now, my beautiful boys until I unite with you again.