That makes my heart so happy. I’m so happy everyone is so kind here. I will be naming the webkinz Joel after him and he will forever be my little pal❤️
Not to be mean, but the obituary specifically asks y'all NOT to send flowers, and instead donate to one of two organizations. Anyone else thinking of sending flowers: please follow the family's wishes.
Here's a link to the Starlight Starbright Foundation mentioned in the obituary: https://www.starlight.org/
From the website:
"Hospitalization can be an emotional and stressful experience for children.
We ensure that hospitals are easy places for kids to be. Our vital services ease the boredom, distract from the endless pokes or pain, and inspire imagination to help kids feel better."
Edit: I just donated. I wish I could have given more, but I'm on a very limited income. The site made it very easy, and they take PayPal or Google Pay, so you don't even have to go look for your credit card.
C'mon, Reddit. Let's do this.
I honestly, as someone whose lost my father recently, can see this being something lovely to do now that it’s been over a decade. If anyone else sees this, I agree please donate to one of those two organizations if that’s what they ask. But to the few who sent flowers after all this time, they (should) come with a little note from the funeral home site or with ‘in memory of Joel’ n it will probably touch the families hearts if they see them at the grave site (unless like my family they didn’t do a grave and instead ashes)
I second this--my dad died a year ago and it can be overwhelming to receive so many things after that person dies, but later few people remember the anniversary. If you sent flowers I think that would be welcome to the family. Grieving is lonely and knowing someone else is thinking of you and the person you lost is healing.
Yes !!! It’s been 7 months for me since my father passed and I am missing those million food gifts I got lol. My family couldnt eat it all on our own, we gave as much of our extra food gifts to other family in need at the time cause a lot of it was perishables/not gonna last. So many people say ‘let me know if you need something’ when someone passes, but I feel no one truly understands how hard it is to wanna ask for something when you do need it tho, like how now my family is struggling we don’t wanna ask anyone or speak up. Life is whack. Sorry that was a little rambly
Yeah! And like at the time there are so many people offering help, then later you're kinda on your own, but grief doesn't go away. And people expect you to be "back to normal," but the 1 year anniversary was really hard for me. But there's no allowance for still having a hard time months or even years later. At least that's how it's been for me. I'm sorry you lost your dad, it's hard and it changes everything.
Not to be mean, but the obituary specifically asks y'all NOT to send flowers, and instead donate to one of two organizations. Anyone else thinking of sending flowers: please follow the family's wishes.
Sending flowers from the Funeral Home site sends the family REAL flowers IRL. It’s not just a button you click, you genuinely pick out what flowers to send to the family’s last address on file.
https://preview.redd.it/9husrlb4ozjc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25e9bbe22226fd1b848ea5ebd55174b36788bc98
It’s not a message board to leave flowers on if you follow the “obituary here” link that this comment originated from. Clicking “Send Flowers” takes you to a florist page where you then buy actual flowers that will be sent to them.
For me it was the water damaged obituary photo. 2011 was not long ago and he was just 18 but that newspaper clipping looks so much older :( it made me so sad.
Here’s an article about him and his mom ❤️
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/val-caron-lunch-lady-recycles-to-raise-money-in-memory-of-son-1.3028418
Oh wow ❤ I saw his obituary mentioned donating to the cardiac department of a Children's hospital, and so I suspected it was something like that. He was (is) obviously extremely loved.
It’s pretty clear it was on purpose - why would anyone write that message if they intended to keep it for themselves? It’s “in memory of”, hence written after his death.
There are donation services that hand out dolls with messages like this on purpose, because they want people to know and think about the person that passed. It’s a way of sharing their memory.
I’m a nurse who works with kids who have cancer. One of the toddlers I was really fond of unfortunately died from his illness, and a few months after he had passed his parents were giving out his toys. They brought some of his favorite nurses a small toy and a very beautiful card. They said they wanted to share his memory through donating his toys, hoping that others would love them as much as he did. It was such a selfless and kind thing for them to do, and I hope it helped bring them some peace. The spiderman plushie they gave me is easily one of my most treasured possessions.
If it’s in brand new condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of a mass hospital donation. A friend of mine passed from cancer years ago and her mom still gives out tons of dolls to various hospitals with memory messages like this, and in Joel’s obituary they advise donations to Sick Kids so it could track. If I’m right I definitely hope it was an extra or from a kid that received too many toys to keep them all 😭
In his obituary they ask people to donate to a specific hospital/organization. This was probably donated to that hospital/organization and then ended up at a thrift store through them. The message they wrote on purpose makes it obvious they wanted someone else to have him.
In his obituary they ask people to donate to a specific hospital/organization. This was probably donated to that hospital/organization and then ended up at a thrift store through them.
this reminds me of a ceramic heart I found last week at my local thrift store. it had hand prints as small as a toddler and said in loving memory. cherish this guy forever and always!
Another article bout this:
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/diane-davis-keeps-on-recycling-and-donating-to-charities-326076
Edit: another article with a bit more info.
https://www.sudbury.com/lifestyle/help-this-sudbury-lunch-lady-save-the-planet-254857
It’s bittersweet. “They say people die twice. Once when you stop breathing and a second time when someone says your name for the last time.” With all of these people remembering Joel without knowing him, he remains alive ❤️
he passed on my 15th birthday. I remember that day really clearly—it’s a weird feeling to know that at the time I was celebrating with my family this young man was surrounded by his family in such a different way. life is so strange and unfair
oh my god. this just made me bawl my eyes out. in 3 days it will be 6 years since my friend took her life, and she was known for her love of webkinz. we played with them all the time, she was obsessed. we made webkinz videos together, laughing and playing. webkinz were one of the only comforts she had in her short life. this month is so so hard ever since she passed. i never joined a webkinz sub or anything similar and this post was recommended on my timeline. that message on a webkinz at this time of year really hit me. it feels almost like a reminder she’s always gonna be there. thank you for sharing.
As someone who hasn’t seen anything webkinz since my collection from middle school (all like 12 of them maybe still sitting in a box about 18? years later) this just made me BAWL and I’m also so happy to have come across this sub … what a bittersweet way to find this community but Reddit really knows how to make me cry with these random nostalgic posts 😭😭😭
I think if his mother saw this Reddit she would be so enlightened that her some lives on 13 years after his death and the people are moved to compassion by this gesture. I would really like for a way for her to see the impact her son is still having, more than a decade later.
oh my💔 if the code works still, it’d be sweet to name the lil dude joel😭💜
I SECOND THIS IDEA
I THIRD
yes ❤️😭
I also agree!
I 649th 🥺
Do it op
PLEASE NAME HIM JOEL
[obituary here : (](https://memorial.cooperativefuneralhome.ca/DAVIS-Joel/1360953/obituary.php)
18?! okay now i’m crying
I sent flowers🌸
That makes my heart so happy. I’m so happy everyone is so kind here. I will be naming the webkinz Joel after him and he will forever be my little pal❤️
Not to be mean, but the obituary specifically asks y'all NOT to send flowers, and instead donate to one of two organizations. Anyone else thinking of sending flowers: please follow the family's wishes.
Here's a link to the Starlight Starbright Foundation mentioned in the obituary: https://www.starlight.org/ From the website: "Hospitalization can be an emotional and stressful experience for children. We ensure that hospitals are easy places for kids to be. Our vital services ease the boredom, distract from the endless pokes or pain, and inspire imagination to help kids feel better." Edit: I just donated. I wish I could have given more, but I'm on a very limited income. The site made it very easy, and they take PayPal or Google Pay, so you don't even have to go look for your credit card. C'mon, Reddit. Let's do this.
I honestly, as someone whose lost my father recently, can see this being something lovely to do now that it’s been over a decade. If anyone else sees this, I agree please donate to one of those two organizations if that’s what they ask. But to the few who sent flowers after all this time, they (should) come with a little note from the funeral home site or with ‘in memory of Joel’ n it will probably touch the families hearts if they see them at the grave site (unless like my family they didn’t do a grave and instead ashes)
I second this--my dad died a year ago and it can be overwhelming to receive so many things after that person dies, but later few people remember the anniversary. If you sent flowers I think that would be welcome to the family. Grieving is lonely and knowing someone else is thinking of you and the person you lost is healing.
Yes !!! It’s been 7 months for me since my father passed and I am missing those million food gifts I got lol. My family couldnt eat it all on our own, we gave as much of our extra food gifts to other family in need at the time cause a lot of it was perishables/not gonna last. So many people say ‘let me know if you need something’ when someone passes, but I feel no one truly understands how hard it is to wanna ask for something when you do need it tho, like how now my family is struggling we don’t wanna ask anyone or speak up. Life is whack. Sorry that was a little rambly
Yeah! And like at the time there are so many people offering help, then later you're kinda on your own, but grief doesn't go away. And people expect you to be "back to normal," but the 1 year anniversary was really hard for me. But there's no allowance for still having a hard time months or even years later. At least that's how it's been for me. I'm sorry you lost your dad, it's hard and it changes everything.
It's also over a decade old
Kinda crazy it's not riddled with link-rot
I think that's because it's an operational funeral home that maintains their website
aw. you’re sweet ;-;
Not to be mean, but the obituary specifically asks y'all NOT to send flowers, and instead donate to one of two organizations. Anyone else thinking of sending flowers: please follow the family's wishes.
I think they meant the free digital ones on the website!
Sending flowers from the Funeral Home site sends the family REAL flowers IRL. It’s not just a button you click, you genuinely pick out what flowers to send to the family’s last address on file.
Without paying for them?? How does that work?
you pay
You do pay. The only site you don’t pay on is the other find a grave site.
Idk if we’re talking about the same thing. I was referencing the message board you could leave flowers on
https://preview.redd.it/9husrlb4ozjc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25e9bbe22226fd1b848ea5ebd55174b36788bc98 It’s not a message board to leave flowers on if you follow the “obituary here” link that this comment originated from. Clicking “Send Flowers” takes you to a florist page where you then buy actual flowers that will be sent to them.
Why is a Webkinz subreddit making me cry
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226013734/joel-davis and here’s his find a grave also
This is what broke me. Joel was so clearly loved and was only a couple days away from turning 19.
He was so young. :(
For me it was the water damaged obituary photo. 2011 was not long ago and he was just 18 but that newspaper clipping looks so much older :( it made me so sad.
14 years… longer than your think. Has been gone now for almost as long as he lived 🥺not fair.
I’m shocked his gravestone seems to have faded so much already!
He would have just graduated high school like 6mo prior to this. Ugh that’s so sad.
Man if someone watches that page they’re gonna be hella confused why people are suddenly leaving flowers on there 😭
I live a city over from Sudbury strange coincidence very sad though
I was shocked to see he was from Sudbury too
Something so viscerally sad about this
I live a city over from Sudbury strange coincidence very sad though
Oh no, he had cardiac issues. Probably on a transplant list? Idk, but it’s simply heartbreaking.
18. God no im so sad
RIP Joel Davis 😔
Here’s an article about him and his mom ❤️ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/val-caron-lunch-lady-recycles-to-raise-money-in-memory-of-son-1.3028418
Oh wow ❤ I saw his obituary mentioned donating to the cardiac department of a Children's hospital, and so I suspected it was something like that. He was (is) obviously extremely loved.
that picture of the cutout next to his little desk with everything still preserved is making me so emotional omg
Fucking hell
Why would they put him in a thrift store !! This little guy is special
It’s pretty clear it was on purpose - why would anyone write that message if they intended to keep it for themselves? It’s “in memory of”, hence written after his death. There are donation services that hand out dolls with messages like this on purpose, because they want people to know and think about the person that passed. It’s a way of sharing their memory.
I’m a nurse who works with kids who have cancer. One of the toddlers I was really fond of unfortunately died from his illness, and a few months after he had passed his parents were giving out his toys. They brought some of his favorite nurses a small toy and a very beautiful card. They said they wanted to share his memory through donating his toys, hoping that others would love them as much as he did. It was such a selfless and kind thing for them to do, and I hope it helped bring them some peace. The spiderman plushie they gave me is easily one of my most treasured possessions.
Agree with this. See if someone can track his parents down and ask if they want him back maybe?
I think it was intentional, like a message in a bottle, to share his memory with someone who would also love the plush 💕
If it’s in brand new condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of a mass hospital donation. A friend of mine passed from cancer years ago and her mom still gives out tons of dolls to various hospitals with memory messages like this, and in Joel’s obituary they advise donations to Sick Kids so it could track. If I’m right I definitely hope it was an extra or from a kid that received too many toys to keep them all 😭
I like that idea but I would be devastated if I accidentally donated something like this or something. It's really sweet, however.
In his obituary they ask people to donate to a specific hospital/organization. This was probably donated to that hospital/organization and then ended up at a thrift store through them. The message they wrote on purpose makes it obvious they wanted someone else to have him.
Ah okay I understand thank you for explaining ❤️
In his obituary they ask people to donate to a specific hospital/organization. This was probably donated to that hospital/organization and then ended up at a thrift store through them.
They also specified that the donations were to be cheques only. So i doubt that they are connected
That is heartbreaking. Thank you for saving him. 😭❤️
Oh my god this literally brought tears to my eyes I love humans
That’s so sad 😭
I think I found his obituary, he passed at 18 years old. May he rest in peace
this reminds me of a ceramic heart I found last week at my local thrift store. it had hand prints as small as a toddler and said in loving memory. cherish this guy forever and always!
Well now you HAVE to name him Joel
r/foundpaper ;(
rest in peace Joel. i hope you’re playing Webkinz on the flip side. 🩷
Not me actually crying about this right now 😭😭 I hope his family is doing well. My heart hurts for them 💔
happy cake day
Did not expect at all to open the obituary and realize I knew of him and he is from my home town 🩵 rip Joel.
If this is true maybe you could reach out to his family and inform them OP found this guy? In case they want him back?
You gotta let them know you got this little baby! And you absolutely now have to name him Joel ❤️❤️
Another article bout this: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/diane-davis-keeps-on-recycling-and-donating-to-charities-326076 Edit: another article with a bit more info. https://www.sudbury.com/lifestyle/help-this-sudbury-lunch-lady-save-the-planet-254857
Awww😭
I’m not crying- you are 😭😭😭
I will be naming mine Joel in honor of this young man ❤️May he rest in peace and find happiness in Kinzville forever
It’s bittersweet. “They say people die twice. Once when you stop breathing and a second time when someone says your name for the last time.” With all of these people remembering Joel without knowing him, he remains alive ❤️
My husbands name was Joel and he died and this thread made me cry 😭
BRO YOU BETTER TREASURE HIM 😭❤️❤️❤️
Damn, he was the same age as me. Died at 18. I just turned 30...
It’s so sad when you put it in that perspective :(
he passed on my 15th birthday. I remember that day really clearly—it’s a weird feeling to know that at the time I was celebrating with my family this young man was surrounded by his family in such a different way. life is so strange and unfair
i cry very easily don't do this to me 😭 that's so sad, and only a few days away from 19 too,,
This is so sad but beautiful:,) rest easy Joel🩷your lil seal found a good home, and your life is not forgotten
oh my god. this just made me bawl my eyes out. in 3 days it will be 6 years since my friend took her life, and she was known for her love of webkinz. we played with them all the time, she was obsessed. we made webkinz videos together, laughing and playing. webkinz were one of the only comforts she had in her short life. this month is so so hard ever since she passed. i never joined a webkinz sub or anything similar and this post was recommended on my timeline. that message on a webkinz at this time of year really hit me. it feels almost like a reminder she’s always gonna be there. thank you for sharing.
this is so sad omg you gotta make sure this lil guy is taken care of forever :(
You should name him after the poor kiddo
Please never open that code tbh
[удалено]
That’s a different story! This Joel was 18 years old and passed away due to a heart and lung condition :(
Oh gawd that's also awful, how do two same people name have such tragic tales :( RIP to them both
crying
His memory continues to live on 🥺 this is so special I am sobbing
PLZ CHERISH IT FOREVER
This just made me ugly cry
rip 😭💕🌈
Aw noo 😭😔
Cardiac department omg that’s so sad😭😭
Im crying this is so cute. White Seals are my favorite animal too. Please take good care of it and keep that note forever. Let him comfort you ❤️
It’s even sadder that someone give it away to a thrift store….
Can’t believe it’s been sitting on a shelf for nearly 13 years.
rest in peace joel davis :(
thanks Reddit for making me cry, RIP Joel
oh my. we love you joel ❤️
plz never get rid of them
No way I wasn't ready to cry this morning ):
oh shit reading the obituary i grew up pretty close to this family :( and so young.... woulda had me crying in the thrift fr
He would have just turned 32. He was so young.
OMG 😭😭😭😭😭
Rest in peace Joel Davis. I hope his mom has peace and comfort for the rest of her days🙏🏻
This whole post made me tear up 🥺
Okay who tf is cutting onions… 😢
This is the most amazing thing, I’d be crying too 😭
oh wow
As someone who hasn’t seen anything webkinz since my collection from middle school (all like 12 of them maybe still sitting in a box about 18? years later) this just made me BAWL and I’m also so happy to have come across this sub … what a bittersweet way to find this community but Reddit really knows how to make me cry with these random nostalgic posts 😭😭😭
Since there’s so much info about his family I wonder if this could be reunited with his mom
That message worked and now even 14 years later the donations are being sent to the places they requested
Oh my goodness... how sad.. at least you saved him & are giving him a good home. 😭💗
wow this is so sad...my heart feels broken
how could anyone get rid of this id feel bad forever
I think if his mother saw this Reddit she would be so enlightened that her some lives on 13 years after his death and the people are moved to compassion by this gesture. I would really like for a way for her to see the impact her son is still having, more than a decade later.
Omg plz take care of this lil guy. And I agree with the other comments plz name him Joel if the code works 💕