We are gathered here today in the memory of my older brother, Brian Reyes, so that together we may acknowledge and share both our joy in the gift that his life was to us, and the pain that his passing brings. In sharing the joy and the pain together today, may we lessen the pain and remember more clearly the joy.

It is an honor and privilege for me to pay tribute today to such a special person. My brother. My best friend.

My name is Russette Estevez and I am Brian’s younger sister. He was remarkable in so many ways! He lived his life to the fullest and touched so many people during his time here with us, as evident by so many of you here reading this now.

As I began to reach out for the right words to express my thoughts about my brother Brian, I remembered the many valued and meaningful roles that Brian played through out his life.

First and foremost I see him as the kind and loving man he was. He loved his family and friends profoundly. He was a devoted son / brother / uncle / cousin and friend. Looking back, he was always a family man.

Brian was just 30 years old when he passed away last year Wednesday, July 24th 2019. He was born on August 15th, 1988 in Florida to Wascar and Elsie Reyes. But Brian was raised and spent majority of his life in New York City, then moving to California for the last several years.

Brian was very close to his family, to his friends, and also his beloved dog, Indu. Growing up with Brian as an older brother wasn’t always easy. He would pick on me constantly, but let anyone else even look at me funny, and Brian would defend me, no matter what. Brian was good to his friends and employers, loved by everyone. Brian worked hard, but he also enjoyed his life. He loved music. Since we were younger, I always heard my brother sing, play the piano, the drums and the guitar. There are a lot of stories about him growing up in church and truly using his talent for the Lord. As well as getting older and making amazing tunes on his guitar and on the piano.

Brian was a man who didn’t have a mean bone in his body, a warm, tall, friendly man who made his mark in the world not with grand gestures or fancy titles, but by the basic goodness and generosity of his character, and how he brought out these qualities in others.

There were many wonderful aspects to Brian’s life, and many ways that he touched our lives. He will be remembered as a wonderful brother, an incredible son, a great friend, a fun uncle, cousin, musician, cook, collector, artist, a friendly face in the street. In all these ways and more, he made our lives richer and fuller. Now that he has passed away, of course there is emptiness and pain, confusion and maybe even anger at death coming to a man of only 30 years, but in many ways, the gift of Brian’s life is still here with us. He lives on in our memories and stories, and in what all of us have become because of him. So I encourage you to share – today, tomorrow and in the years to come - your memories and stories, and to share the pain of this loss as well. In this way we will keep the gift of Brian’s life alive.

Brian, my brother, it is very hard to say goodbye so as I have been saying now for a year... so-long. The pages of your book will never be closed, and I know I will see you again when I reach the Heavenly place you are now a permanent resident of.

We will remember you through the many people still left behind whose lives you touched so positively. You may not realize it, but you leave an amazing legacy behind, mom, myself, your friends, your nieces and nephews and even those you were simply acquaintances with. They are your legacy! You touched every single person you ever encountered in a way that only you can do. Through them you leave this world a better place than when you found it and for that you have to be very proud.

Brian, my brother, we will miss you, but we will always remember you with respect, admiration and love, always, always, always!

On behalf of the rest of the family, we love you and we miss you.

I’d like to thank you all for coming to this virtual memorial today and I hope you’re all able to share your memories and sweet stories of who Brian Reyes was to you.

Thank you

XO