The Blackfeet Indian has no word for goodbye. Kitakitamatsino means "I'll see you again" my sister warrior.
Obituary
Cheryl Ann Hamilton, born and raised in Seattle, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on October 7, 2024, at the age of 58 in Rochester, Indiana where she has lived for the past two years. She had been suffering from a myriad of serious medical conditions. Born on January 18, 1966, Cheryl spent her life embodying kindness, resilience, and an unyielding optimism that touched every soul she encountered.
Known for her big-hearted nature, Cheryl approached life with a loving spirit and a warmth that welcomed others without judgment. Brash at times, what she lacked in social skills was more than made up for with her thoughtfulness and genuine caring that shone through in her everyday interactions, making her a cherished friend to the many lives she touched. Cheryl's love for animals was greater than any other, perhaps because they were the only true, unconditional love she had ever experienced in this life. Cheryl was compassionate to people and always stood up for those unable to stand up for themselves. She cared deeply for her beloved cats and she believed in the power of kindness and the importance of providing love to all creatures, great and small.
Cheryl's courageous spirit and resilience brought hope to those around her. With an optimistic outlook, she faced so many obstacles and challenges in life with unwavering positivity. She didn't complain about her pain and ailments or the heavy burdens she had in life, instead opting to keep fighting to be better, to do better, and to choose to see the beauty and potential in every situation. She inspired others to make positive changes to their life as she had.
The Saturday before her passing, Cheryl was upbeat and incredibly happy to be accepted into a college program for computer sciences. She was slightly fearful of failing but this marked a massive change in her life that gave her purpose and a sense of pride to have overcome so much to get to this point. She wanted people to know if she could go from where she was to this point, anybody can do it.
She is survived by her loving family and countless friends who cherished her deeply. Her legacy of kindness, strength, and courage will continue to inspire and live on in the hearts of those she touched.
Cheryl Ann Hamilton will be remembered for who she was—a remarkable woman who travelled a tragic life journey but made the world a better, brighter place in the end. Her memory will remain a guiding light for all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Note:
Some who read this obit may think it's just nice words for someone who died but not really relevant to Cheryl. Keep in mind different people knew Cheryl at different times; before substances, after substances, during substances and everywhere in between. I knew Cheryl way before any substance abuse as an innocent child who never stood a chance against the harsh reality of the life she was born into. I knew her during her worst addictions, when she quit, when she was somewhere in the middle and when she finally got clean. The obit speaks of the real Cheryl, who she was without any altering influences. The story of Cheryl's life will be added, not because I want to air dirty laundry or post personal information but because I know she would want people to have some context, some rationale for what was behind who she was and how she got there, especially for those who she unintentionally hurt along the way. I feel I owe that to her. She had a lot of flaws and regrets; made so many mistakes but she did the best she could with what she knew and the thing is......she never stopped trying, she never gave up.
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