08/26/2026
"Candace was beautiful inside and out. She was honest, caring, compassionate, funny, hardworking, and incredibly generous. She had a warmth about her that made people feel loved and welcomed, and she had a way of bringing laughter and joy wherever she went.
Candace loved cooking for her friends and family. She was a BIG foodie who found happiness in good food, sharing meals, and gathering the people she loved around her. Cooking was one of the ways she showed her love—through the time, care, and generosity she put into creating something special for others.
She also had a love for travel, adventure, and discovering the beauty of the world around her. Candace experienced the vast mountain ranges of Colorado, the luscious beauty of Jamaica, the blue region of Okinawa, Japan, and the peaceful serenity of the Carolina coastline. She embraced each place for its own beauty, but some of her most cherished moments were found closer to home, surrounded by family and enjoying our lake life in Wisconsin.
Candace had an adventurous spirit and a beautiful appreciation for life. She loved experiencing new places, making memories, sharing laughter, and spending time with the people who meant the most to her. Those memories are now treasured pieces of the beautiful life she lived.
Candace was building a beautiful and bright future. She was engaged to the love of her life, had returned to school, and was making plans for the many dreams she still held close to her heart. Her life was filled with promise, love, and determination. She was looking forward to what was ahead and all the memories she would make along the way.
Candace was so much more than the way her life ended. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a fiancée, a step-mom, and someone who loved deeply and gave generously. She left behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, love, and kindness that will continue to live in the hearts of everyone who knew her.
Candace’s greatest love, however, was reserved for her boys—her babies—her Aussies, Odin and Barley. To Candace, they were so much more than pets; they were her family, her companions, and a huge part of her heart. She poured herself into caring for them and loved them with the devotion of a mother.
Odin and Barley were there for Candace through so much of her life. They brought her comfort, companionship, laughter, and unconditional love. No matter what life brought her way, she knew she could count on her boys to be by her side. Their bond was incredibly special, and anyone who knew Candace knew just how much they meant to her. They were her safe place, her constant companions, and her babies. She cherished every moment with them and was grateful for the love they gave her so freely.
When Odin passed away in February 2024, Candace lost a huge piece of her heart. Odin was so much more than a dog to her—he was one of her boys, her family, and a deeply loved part of her life. His loss was incredibly difficult for her, and our family saw just how deeply she grieved him.
Then, a little more than a year after Candace passed away, our family lost Barley in March 2026. Losing Barley was especially heartbreaking because he was the other half of Candace’s world. Although Candace was no longer here to hold him, Barley remained a precious connection to her and to the love they shared.
Both Odin and Barley will forever be a part of Candace’s story. They were her boys, her companions, and a piece of the love she carried in her heart.
Our family find comfort in imagining that Candace, Odin, and Barley are now together again. After everything they went through together, we like to believe they were waiting for each other, and that they are once again by her side—together, just as they always belonged.
Our family is still deeply saddened by Candace’s loss, and there are moments when the reality of her absence is still incredibly difficult to understand. But alongside our grief, we are profoundly proud of Candace and the incredible gift she was able to give through organ donation. Knowing that her gift brought hope and life to others gives our family a sense of comfort and meaning during such a heartbreaking time.
Candace had a naturally giving and caring heart. She was the kind of person who wanted to help others, care for those she loved, and make a difference. In many ways, her donation was simply another reflection of who she was. Even in her final moments, Candace was able to give something so precious—another chance at life.
One especially meaningful part of Candace’s gift is that one of her recipients is a family member of one of Candace’s lifelong friends. Candace not only gave the gift of life to people she may never have known, but she was also able to give that gift to someone who meant the world to someone she loved. Knowing that he is living on because of Candace makes her gift even more personal and special to our family.
Although we would give anything to have Candace back with us, we are grateful that a part of her continues to live on through others. Her heart of giving, caring, and loving others did not end with her passing. Through her donation, Candace continues to bring hope, create more tomorrows, and touch lives in ways she never could have imagined.
Her story is a story of love, adventure, family, generosity, hope, and a beautiful soul who made this world brighter simply by being in it. While we cannot watch the future Candace dreamed of unfold, we can see her story continuing through the lives she touched—and now through the four lives carrying a part of her forward.
For our family, that is one of the greatest parts of Candace’s story: her life continues to give life." - Tina, mom of donor hero, Candace
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