Passionate, courageous, victorious, ruthless, heroic
For Drea, no challenge was too difficult to tackle, no dream too distant to chase, no person too broken to heal. She was a thoughtful, spiritual person who not only inspired others with her words but with her actions. As a peer support specialist at transitional living, she found purpose in helping others recover from their addiction.
“Andrea was very passionate about finding the light within herself and learning to love herself one day,” her wife, Patience, said. “Once she finally did, she was passionate about teaching others and helping them find their light, too.”
Drea’s compassion for others did not stop at her work. Patience recalled several times when Drea used her last bit of cash to buy food and water for people experiencing homelessness. It didn’t matter that she hardly had any gas in her car or food for herself; Drea unhesitatingly gave what she could to those who needed it just a little more than she did.
Not only an intuitive and spiritual individual, Drea also had a wealth of practical skills. She sewed, cooked, worked on cars, and enjoyed crafting. She was grounded, honest, and unafraid to be herself. One of Patience’s fondest memories with Drea was Fourth of July, when they drove down to the local taco truck, sat on the hood of their car, and enjoyed tacos while watching the fireworks. Drea dreamt of one day bringing a child of her own into the world and creating the loving family she had always longed for.
Drea lived with addiction for over two decades. The disease altered her warm personality and hid her light beneath layers of pain and anger. “The most difficult part was watching the person who is your entire heart, soul, and world become a complete stranger right in front of your own eyes,” Patience said. “It broke me down to watch her be taken deeper and deeper into the darkness of addiction. No matter how much I tried, it was impossible to pull her back into the light.”
When Drea passed away, dozens of people who had moved through the transitional living home with her shared how she had affected their lives. They called her “an angel,” an “outstanding person with a heart of gold,” and “the light in people’s lives at the darkest of times.” She was “the steady presence that made the harder days feel a little less heavy,” who “didn’t have to try to inspire anyone; she did it just by showing up honestly, by listening without judging, and by reminding us that we were stronger than we felt.”
Since Drea’s passing, Patience has created The Echoes of Andrea Foundation, a nonprofit organization, in her memory. She hopes to transform it into a rehabilitation center one day, continuing Drea’s mission to help people recover from addiction.
“I believe there is a bigger picture to this, a message that needs to be heard,” Patience said. “I believe there are thousands of lives to be saved through her death. I’m willing to do anything to lend a helping hand to anyone who is walking in the shoes we have walked in and prevent them from being on either side of this.” One of Drea’s favorite quotes is by Muhammad Ali: “I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting, because those are the only ones that count.” Patience hopes that this sentiment, one that Drea lived by, can help others continue to stay strong in their fight.
Drea’s wife, Patience, provided the information for this narrative.
April 12, 1992–August 15, 2025–Age 33
Portrait Artist: Elizabeth Jones
Narrative Writer: Angela Day
