24 years old today my darling son Always Remembered, Never Shall You Be Forgotten. We Love and Miss You xxx

Happy birthday brother ❤️‍

Until we meet again buddy ♥️

9 years and I'm still numb with pain. I hate being here without you. I hate not seeing you when I wake. I hoped time would make loosing you easier but it feels worse every year. ..

23 TODAY!!! 9 years later I still dont understand how cruel time is here on earth. The world keeps moving like the wind and yet you are still in my mind like it was yesterday. The longing is so surreal some days. I have searched so much spiritually over the years for understanding and finally, I found a place to Thank God for giving me 14 years of memories and love. Till we meet again my *Golden Boy* Love Always Forever Missed ⚘see you soon my boy, in our Creators Time. LOVE MOM

I haven’t forgotten about you and I never will - I’ll always remember you. I think about you a lot my brother. What I’m not able to give to or share with you anymore, I now do in your name. Much love brother man, and happy birthday ✊ ⚽️ ♥️

A canvas once painted full of life and milestones filled with memories, moments, events and celebrations. Now we left with a blank canvas with  memories , moments, milestones unfulfilled. Yes, we know you belong to our Creator and people will never understand how we wonder, seek and dream of a future with you growing and exploring. Till we meet again my son. Love you always and forever

We think every year it will get easier with your passing angelversary.
Yet, here I am every year wondering how your life would have been if you were still with us.
Every year I am left feeling broken and filled with pain and anguish as the colours on your canvas fades with time. I reminded of the joy you gave and reminded of your loss without you in our lives. Mommy will miss you forever and yearn for you until we meet again "MY GOLDEN BOY"

Dear son of a special lady... A lady who I met only because you had passed on...
It sometimes takes very sad endings to create other beginnings but we will never quite understand why these things have to happen

I love looking at your photos... You were such a beautiful boy... And by the sounds of it you lived a full and good school life... I loved your letter to apply to the high school...which got you in...
So we all cannot help wonder why did your life have to end there?
But I'm sure that through your passing and over these years we have all learned a lot..
Rest in peace special angel....
Xxxx xxxx xxx love to your mom and sisters

..

Happy birthday to my phenomenal son who turns 21 today. May this day see you create sweet memories that you will cherish all the days of your life. At this age, an amazing future is right around the corner, so don’t fear to dream big and chase after those dreams. These are the messages I wished I had to say to you today as we prepare to celebrate with family and friends. Today was suppose to be a day of happiness, love, birthday surprises and great memories shared. Today was suppose to be OUR day for YOU. Instead it was a day filled with sadness and brokenness reminiscing on how much I miss you so much in my life and how i wish things were different and you were here. I miss you my darling with every breathe i take and with every heart beat that aches, you will always be remembered and never forgotten. 

Son, I wish I could wake up and see you standing there.
Then I would know that it was just a nightmare.
Son, I remember when you were small and how you would hold my hand,
and as you grew older you became my best friend.
Son, I have 14 years of memories that I will treasure and keep safe in my heart.
We share a bond that time and distance can never break apart.
Son, oh how my heart aches so.
I would love to have you back and never let you go.
Son, where there was happiness, now there is sadness.
Son, how I long to hear your voice and see your beautiful smile and have you back for just a little while.
Son, until that day I see you again, I will look to the sky and search among the stars for my son and best friend.
Love,
Mom

Dear Rayel, angel, beautiful soul... I never got to meet you & only met your beautiful mother & siblings through your passing.
I wrote a tribute to you a few years later & proudly included it into my first book of inspirational poetry #Pathways OfInspiration
Your mom has & is reaching out to help others. She is a Strong caring lady but we know that her heart is still broken, there will always be a missing piece.
rest in peace & may your memory forever be a beacon of light to others.
So sorry that you could not be rescued to live a long long full life...you would have been AWESOME

Five years today, it does not get easier. We all miss you so much. We lighting a candle for you, aunty Margo and family prayed and so much close family and best friends played tribute to you. I prayed God be my comfort today. He sent many amazing earthly angels. You will always be remembered and never forgotten by those who remember you dearly. Love you mom

19 years old, forever 14. Life on earth does not get easier son but harder without your future in it. I ponder so much on where you would be now and what achievements you would have mastered and milestones you've reached. 5 years to long with you part of my life and your sisters. Happy Angel Birthday Sweet Child of Mine - Always Remembered, Never Forgotten xxxx Love Mom

Happy 19th birthday to you Rayel as you celebrate in Heaven with the Angels, it still feel so unreal, you are watching over us, miss you stacks.
In the short time you made an impact in all our lives, especially the youth at St Pius and my Bronwyn Langley.

Bless you. My candles are lit while i send special thoughts your way

Be at peace forever Rayel, much love!

Sending, love, light to your Rayel.. we are always and will always remember you, your mom sends us reminders of your sweet soul my boy, be at peace, xoxo

4 Years today, seems ridiculous to know you have been gone from us for 48 months. We miss you so much in the home it hurts daily. We love you dearly and hold your memories close to our hearts or hearts. Love Mom xxx

You turned 18 this year. What a milestone you would have reached. I picture how you would have looked - tall,handsome,maybe a beard. I miss you everyday. The what if's linger. I miss your presence. Love always Mom

3years have passed since you left us so suddenly and unexpectedly. 3 years of agonising pain and longing for your presence. Life has been hard and difficult without you. We miss you more and more as the years pass. RIP my darling boy. My GoldenBoy my Handsome Son. My First Born

I told Dad would this home not be great with a 17year old? This year you would have gone for your learners, been driving most probably. This year you would be planning your choice of university or Tvet college for Your engineering choice. This year you would have been 17 and I miss you so much. This year you would have made this home full of laughter and crowds of friends. It is surreal my son. We spent Yor birthday visiting your grave site and camping on the beach. This year my son YOU turrned 17 Years Wow! Love you always and forever your proud mom xx

Dear Rayel,

I miss you everyday of my life. There has not been one day that you've not crossed my mind. I miss you dearly. You were my best friend. You and I had a bond like no other. I miss you brother. You would lighten up my day every time I felt down or not in the mood to talk. You had such a unique personality and aura. I miss you, I miss you oh so much.

Love
Your Buddy Imaad

Today we remember you my sweet little boy. As we remember your birthday and the life you shared with us. Today you would have been 17 years old and even though you are not with us today, we think of you and send love for today and every day to come.
4 March 2016

you are forever in my thoughts and i believe in the Resurrection so we will meet again.

As I sit at my desk I have tears in my eyes.... A life gone too soon... I see my boy in your beautiful notes about Rayel. I fear what you have gone through... I wish you love and light always....

A life ended too soon :-

Oh young one
Why did it come to this?
What heart-wrenching cries
did you hide from us and from this world?
What demons tormented you in silence
and kept you from speaking out?
Were we to know what you never shouted out?

The cries that come from within now are for you
we did not know we failed you so
If only you had shared that silent part of you -
that inner voice we could not hear
and would have if we'd have had a choice.

Hearts broken as we miss your smiles and laughter,
Miss your being here with us -
Never again be able to hold you
and watch your steady growing.
If only your silent cries were louder to our ears
so we'd have been more knowing.

Forgive us will you child?
Failing you was not on our duty list.
Love sometimes blinds us to reality
and we lose a precious soul-
We cry now as we had no idea
that you felt anything less than whole.

Forever in our hearts you will be -
your memory, chiseled deep within.
May we feel you with the whisper of the wind,
the rustle of leaves or a falling feather,
a butterfly, a budding rose --
May your spirit surround us in our daily lives
and may you be at peace now and forever.

-----Dedicated to Bronwyn-----
in memory of her son Rayel……July 2015, By Laverne Schwimmbacher

remembering our son and brother Rayel Owen on his 2 yr Angelversary you are always in our thoughts and forever in our hearts from daddy Troy, mom Bronwyn Sisters Trinity and Trista. Our GoldenBoy, 4Eva14 we miss you so much and love you eternally.

Forever Missed - Forever Loved - Forever Remembered you shall be Son ...... Not a day goes by without you on my mind and in my heart. https://www.facebook.com/momgrievingherson?ref=hl

Happy Angel Birthday my amazing son. I love and miss you more and more with every passing day. Miss You Forever, Love You Always Mom xx

Thinking of you not only today BUT everyday my beautiful child. We miss you everyday and my little girls talk about you and to you all the time. I hope you are looking down on all of us today and smiling down knowing that we all remembering you on this special day. Love you always and we will never forget you.

Lighting a candle for you Rayel... We miss you dearly...

You haven't died, has just completed the shortest life cycle.

Now you're living in the paradise.

Rest in peace mate!...

To my dearest, beautiful, clever boy. You meant the world to me. My one and only son, my first born. You brought so much light, love, happiness, excitement, joy, hope into our lives. Every project every task, I knew there would be cheer to follow.  You were my life, the reason I had to work hard to make sure you had everything available to you, to be successful. To be the great leader you were born to be. We made so much plans together, you were going to change the world. You told me everything, and cannot see my life without your presence. If I knew Monday evening would be the last time I would kiss and hug you, I would never have let you go. If i knew Wednesday was going to be the last message and the last phone call to you, the last time I would hear your beautiful voice, I would never have put the phone down.
I was so very proud of you. You always made me so proud and you still said mom I am really working hard, if you can mom, don’t make you short, but I really love this cool dj set, imagine how much money I can make dj’ing at my friends parties. I said to you “my boy knowledge is power and no matter how hard life gets, no one can ever take that away from you and who knows santa might just surprise you”.
You were so excited about everything. I am going to miss your remixes you forced me to listen to almost every night, that I nagged you to place on sound cloud and you said one day when it is perfect mom. I told you it was great and someone is going to hear how great you are, imagine that Rayél and you just said, It not perfect yet, i'm working on the perfect one mom. You found a good song you would call me and say mom listen to this new song, and I would tease you and say oh Rayél that song is old this mom is hip, you laugh and say oh think you cool just go sit inside with the old people. Your science game you got, every time you found the elements to create a virus, moss, glass, coal even a vein you would scream calling to show me the elements and how you created it. I still made a joke and said I hope you not going to become a nutty professor and create a nuclear virus, and we had a good laugh. I pray every morning and every night to find understanding. I cannot accept your absence, I cannot accept you have left me with all your unfulfilled dreams and hopes. I cannot accept I wont see you anymore, I cannot accept I will never hear you laugh, talk and share your future plans with me. Who is going to tease me. who is going make me and daddy laugh with your quirky, witty personality. You were such an unselfish and caring boy and and oh so charming. 

I pray to GOD to keep you safe and to give me help to find the peace.

You are my only son, my world revolved around you becoming successful, you are my golden boy and you always will be.

I am so sorry to hear about this. I have a daughter who is struggling with the same issues right now today. I don't know what to do. In and out of "hospitals". So depressing to love someone so much but yet cannot help them.

RAYEL EULOGY from Godmother Robyn Matthews

“The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand;
the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.” (George Eliot)

PAUSE - SILENCE
I would like to begin by thanking everyone for being here today, we are touched that you are here to show your support to the family and pay your respects to Rayel.
My name is Robyn, 1st cousin to Bronwyn and God Mother to Rayel.
I stand up here with one wish and one purpose. My wish is for everyone to remember Rayel the way I do and my purpose is to share my memories of him so that we will never forget.
As a family we were always informed and involved in Rayel’s achievements, with every accomplishment his Mom always enveloped it with so much pride. She made us feel part of his life and for that we are not only Blessed but divinely favoured.

Rayel was born on the 4th of March 1999 at the St Monica’s Maternity Home in Cape Town. He was brought into our world by his Mom Bronwyn Newman and his Dad Bradley Da Silva. Raised and loved dearly by his step Dad, Troy Newman together with his Grand Mothers ma Yvonne, ma Pam, ma Edith and ma Lucille. Rayel loved children and especially adored his sisters, Trinity, Trista, Jayden and brother Blaine.

I remember Rayel always had the highest regard for his older cousins and they were mentors to him in his life. He loved his cousins as much as he loved his own sisters and brother.

He always surrounded himself with good quality friends that were outgoing and a positive influence in his life. I remember some delightful days spent with Rayel and Bronwyn especially the memories I have of them when they stayed in our home for a short while. Rayel was like my own and I can still remember the way I used to comfort him as he fell asleep as a baby.

Rayel graduated from St. Anne’s school in 2012 where he was House Captain, Class Monitor and also in the General Knowledge Quiz Club. He joined the International School of Cape Town in January this year, after being selected from a large number of applicants for a full scholarship. These scholarships are awarded only to the most deserving candidates. He showed himself to be a student with great potential. In a relatively short time he began to deliver good work and first class results. Rayel fitted in very well with his peers and was also popular with other students in other grades. His cheerful, positive disposition and friendly attitude to all will be missed dearly by those who grew to know him at the school.

Rayel enjoyed many things including science, making his own music, hockey and especially baseball. He excelled in maths and science, loved experimenting with different things and enjoyed making movies. He even completed his first silent movie. When it came to music he was known as the beat boxer and he was even nicknamed Razadee. His passion was his sport, Baseball. He joined the Battswood Baseball Club in 2010. He never missed a season or practise session. He loved the game very much and he was even selected for Provincial trials for season 2012/2013.

He had his first Holy Communion in 2009 and also assisted as an altar boy in the church.

Rayel was raised to be a humble boy, always respectful to his elders. His family instilled the best in him. I remember Rayel always making sure that when he came to visit our home that his little sisters always greeted everyone in the house before they went to play. Of course as he matured into a handsome teenager, he would still visit us, always remaining humble.

He brought so much joy and laughter into everyone’s lives and his humour, respect, love, humility, dreams and intelligence will forever live on in our hearts.

Rayel, your humour, positive attitude and beautiful smile are what we will remember most about you. To me you are a true angel.

In conclusion I would like to leave you with this bible verse and poem:
Romans 14:7-9 for none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.



POEM
You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.

Rayel I miss you so much. I love you with all my heart. I am so sorry I could not have been there to protect you in that time of need. We had so many good times. Remembering when you walked pass me and said “ Hello old man” and I would chase you around the house and car , we would both have a good laugh because I could never catch you. I miss you Rayel , we did so many things together.
I was the proudest dad, when you applied for the scholarship at ISCT me and mom sat in front of the interview panel with you, you took your time answering each question and answered without hesitation. We knew from that moment you were no longer that small boy, you grew up into the beautiful, intelligent, young man that we have always strived to install in you. 
Rayel was always my “Backup” knowing with 3 girls in the house he would come to me jokingly when his mom checked him for something he would say” Dad go sort your wife out” and I would always say Bronwyn what did you do to Rayel.
We had so, so, many good times as a family going away on little holidays because we all loved the outdoors. He went on a road trip to springbok just the 2 of us and Rayel would say dad Im hungry , Im thirsty, I need the toilet, which made we stop and have a break which I needed. It made us also enjoy the trip more . When there was opportunities for you to come with me to work , you would always jump at the opportunity to learn more about what I did everyday at work which taught him so much, insight and appreciation. 
He always would say that he was “Mr Break it” and I was “Mr Fix it” and I think he enjoyed breaking things so we could spend that time just fixing things together. He was inquisitive about everything and I was there to teach him. With my guidance I would watch you take a computer apart and put it back together just to show me for fun that he was better than me. He would always assist me when I worked on the car and asked me questions on parts of the car and what it does. I started teaching him how to drive not so long ago and he was so excited because he would say to me this is going to be my car. He was looking forward to get his learners and license which I think he would ace first time because he was such a determined young man.
Rayel would never give up on any project or task. One evening he sat up till after 4am finishing a silent movie for which he achieved top marks . My son,you amazed me every day showing me that you had so much talent and such a bright future to look forward to. Because every goal you set, you would achieve it successfully
In my mind I knew that I won’t last forever and that you would take care of our family
Rayel,I will sadly miss you forever, and ever, you made our family complete
Love you always
DAD