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In Loving memory of Brooke Neva Folkman
“Brooke was one of the most vibrant, spirited souls this world has known. She possessed a zest and vitality for life that was awe-inspiring. Her radiant red hair and emerald green eyes, bright smile and contagious laughter drew others to her. She lived her 23 years of life freely and fully. She loved deeply, wholeheartedly and vulnerably. She had an intense passion for expressing the beauty and agony of life through her gifts in music, art, and the written word. She had the greatest love for every living creature, her passion for all animals was intense and deeply touching. She had a passion for people, for loving people, for lifting and inspiring people, for connecting with people. Her authenticity, deep compassion, ability to listen intently and share her story vulnerably, drew people to her. Her openness enabled people to connect with Brooke deeply. The deepest desire of her heart was that her suffering could somehow lift and strengthen others who were likewise suffering. She yearned to help others find faith, hope and beauty in this often painful, lonely life. Brooke dreamed of speaking publicly, writing books and supporting others through the agonies she suffered as a result of OCD, Overwhelming Anxiety, Sexual Assault, PTSD, BPD and Addiction. She wanted to make a difference in this world. She certainly left her mark.
Brooke has a story to tell. She left us with the rough draft. This is our attempt to share Brooke’s story in her own words, in hopes that the legacy she left will lift and inspire you. This is also our way of sharing our own story as we navigate the overwhelming grief of losing Brooke, to share with you our own hope for healing. Thank you for joining us on this journey.” - Sandy Folkman, Mother
“I am Brooke Folkman, and I am a Daughter of God, of a King. The King of the Universe. And I am His daughter, and He loves me. And he Loves YOU. There is nothing you could ever do to diminish or change his perfect love. ”
The remarkable part of Brooke’s story is her unique ability to persevere joyfully despite all she suffered in this life. She looked toward the future with bright enthusiasm. She got up every single day clinging to her faith and trusting in our Savior, Jesus Christ. She clung to hope for healing and refused to be engulfed in darkness and bitterness, but continuously sought for light and love.
“To know Brooke was to love her.”
“he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings”
-2 Nephi 25:13
The Savior Understands ME
“You will never understand the pain and heartache I experienced. You will never realize how much hurt my soul had wracked upon it and how low I was in the pit of despair. No matter how hard I try to explain it to you, no matter how hard you try to come to terms with my life story and try to feel or understand what I went though, you won’t be able to. Ever. No one will… except My kind and merciful Savior, Jesus Christ, who was there going through it all with me every step of the way. Every raging outburst, every stabbing pain I felt of guilt from the sins I’d comitted, every tear that flowed from my tired eyes and fell to the ground of desolate wilderness, He was there…
I was not alone; and neither are You.”
- Brooke Neva Folkman
Brooke’s Testimony
Brooke’s Bio on mormon.org: “I was born into an LDS family and decided to make the decision to join the church through baptism at the age of 8. Since that time I have gone through/experienced many things that have made me question my faith occasionally. Yet every time this happened I have pulled through with an even greater testimony and understanding of this gospel. Without my God I would be lost. Through prayers, inspiration and even personal miracles, I have been able to gain a relationship with my Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. The only thing that gets me through my day is the knowledge and truth that this church is true….
Excerpt from “The Pamphlet”: I am Brooke Folkman, and I am a Daughter of God, of a King. The King of the Universe. And I am His daughter, and He loves me. And he Loves YOU. There is nothing you could ever do to diminish or change his perfect love. The person I am today has been through much, learned much, suffered much, but also felt much Joy. And I would not change a single thing in my life if I thought it would change the person who I am today. We all carry scars along with us in life. Some deeper and more noticeable than others and we don’t only wear physical scars on our bodies, but emotional and mental scars impressed in our souls and in our minds. But no matter how many or how bad the scars are, you are worth more than they ever will be.
Stay Strong Brooke.
The journey may get rough, you may want to give up, but you can’t. You need to make a difference in this world, and I believe with all my heart that you can. Your Princess Soul is inside you, sitting here with you right now. She loves you. She knows God. She knows her Father. You are closer to Him than you think. This perfect and beautiful spirit is trapped in this fragile body for a short time. One day you and she will be one. Combined together forever and stronger than ever. Live every single moment to the fullest. Do things you love, spend as much time as you can with your family. They are your best friends and love you more than you know. And I love you more than words can express.” - Brooke Folkman
Listen to Brooke’s Celebration of Life Service:
