Beautiful, caring, fun-loving spirit
“She was a soul on fire, streaking through the universe like an asteroid bound for great things. She was a healer, drawing wisdom from her scars, she was a spiritual beacon who taught me how to love and accept my higher power. She was passion itself. She loved and she loved hard.” This excerpt, from one of Kristina Perrin’s best friends, is just one testament, amidst countless others, that tells of Kristina’s profound impact on those around her.
At 16, Kristina’s life was irrecoverably altered when her best friend was abducted and murdered. She suffered other dark tragedies throughout her years, but just as she cultivated strength in the face of addiction, she too challenged the harsh realities of life with her trademark vibrant spirit. Thus, despite personal hardship, people often remarked on Kristina’s childlike spirit and sense of wonder.
Kristina struggled with substance use disorder for twenty years, never losing hope, and working hard to maintain sobriety and health. She attended dialectical behavior therapy classes to regulate her emotions and behaviors. She also maintained work, nurtured a rich social world, and never stopped fighting, despite life’s setbacks. Kristina dedicated herself to many restorative practices: yoga, gardening, singing, running, strength-training, cooking, and reading, to name a few.
Through a love for movement and the outdoors, Kristina continued to find beauty and ambition in life. From an early age, she competed as a runner, often receiving awards for her performance. She planned on becoming a certified yoga instructor, with aspirations to manage her own studio. Adept in the restaurant industry, she earned three pins recognizing her outstanding service, trust-building skills, and exceptional teamwork. Kristina also worked as a manager and cook at a deli and as a natural products demonstrator ambassador.
Kristina was an integral and loving member in her tight-knit family. She had a close relationship with her brother, whom she looked up to all her life. She loved spending time with her nephews, often scurrying off with the boys for ice cream or a craft project. Together, the family ran as a relay team for the Vermont City Marathon. The Perrins also enjoyed family trips to Misquamicut Beach and the White Mountains.
Kristina’s legacy is one of inspiration, her vibrant personality continuing to inform those that knew her. One of her best friends wrote: “To remember her I will make tabouli from scratch, I will run a 5k to promote recovery, I will love my nephew beyond words. I will live as fiercely as she did. And love as freely, as well.” Her mother, Cynthia, maintains the same unbreakable spirit as her daughter, continuing Kristina’s optimism with the message: “As a parent, Never Give Up Hope!” Cynthia is a member of Vermont Team Sharing, a non-profit organization for parents who have lost their child to substance use disorder.
Kristina’s mother, Cynthia Perrin, provided the information for this narrative.
July 10, 1983-January 12, 2021-Age 37
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Livia Cohen
