Loving, compassionate, adventurous, creative, charismatic
Brittany was as beautiful inside as out. Her genuine, caring, compassionate personality combined with her hilarious side made her a “one of a kind” person; a Unicorn. She was outgoing, bubbly, and crazy at times; she could relate to anyone and never met a stranger.
Brittany was known for her outgoing personality. She would often talk to herself if no one was around. She had a lot of funny and endearing mannerisms too, like sticking out her tongue for photos. She wasn’t afraid to be silly and often used funny sayings like “SIR” or “hold, please, please hold!”
Brittany was passionate about her recovery and sobriety; she loved sober life. She led AA meetings, was a sponsor for others and regularly attended her “Warrior Woman” home group. She had a powerful ability to help others who were dealing with addictions as she continued to fight her own substance use. It seemed she gained more strength to push through after each relapse.
Brittany graduated from Coventry High School where she was a straight-A student, later attending a nearby community college. She was interested in studying psychology with a concentration in mental health and addiction; a degree she thought would be useful in working with others who had substance use disorders.
So many people attended her funeral, there was nowhere to park; over 300 people were in attendance to remember her. Countless stories were told that day about Brittany’s positive influence on the lives of many people trying to get or stay free of substance use. Brittany had almost three years of sobriety before she relapsed for the final time.
What Brittany really craved was a “normal” life. She wanted to have a loving husband, kids, a job she enjoyed and a house with the proverbial white picket fence. Everything she loved when sober was gone when she used drugs,” her mother said, ‘they took her over and nothing else mattered.’
Since Brittany’s death, her mother experiences some anxiety and depression. “I miss her face, her beautiful smile, her big personality and her laugh, I even miss simply seeing her come in and out of the house to work, or meetings,” her mom stated. ‘The back and forth between sobriety and addiction was very stressful,” according to her mother. ‘I now have a very good understanding of addiction and how it affects people. With this knowledge, I plan to honor Brittany’s legacy and help others as she did.’
Brittany’s mother, Nora Arnold, provided the information for this narrative.
September 18, 1988-November 16, 2019
Age 31-Lived with addiction 14 years
