Remembering an Angel / Mom To those of you who visit this site and didn't know Chris, you missed knowing a great person. He was a loving son, dad, hard worker, funny and a good friend to many people. Chris came into my life when I was only 19 years old for 2 weeks. As a young mom, I am sure I didn't do things as I should have, but despite whatever things I did wrong Chris turned out to be such a good soul. He grew up always the one to make us all laugh even when there wasn't much to laugh about. I remember teachers calling to let me know he was disturbing the class with his jokes. That never really changed, as he loved humor. The day his first daughter Jessica was born probably was one of the first 3 best days of his life. He was so excited and loved taking care and holding Jesse. I remember him sending me vidoes of Jesse and he would tell her to say hi to nana into the camera and she would come up to the camera and look inside and tell him I don't see her. We would all get a big laugh. Then Shelby was born and she was a carbon copy of Chris. She has remained the same way. Such a beautiful girl and Chris loved both girls so much. Then several years later Kaylee came to us. She had some of Chris and some of Cheryl. She was the apple of his eye for sure. I know Jesse and Shelby thought he loved Kaylee the most but he loved them all, she was just the baby and got spoiled. The greatest thing about Chris was the fact that he was a great dad and would do anything for them. Chris had many friends through work and was well known for his talent as a D.J. I never had the chance to attend a function he worked but have heard so many stories about the good times. The way all the people came out for his memorial and provided everything needed was a testiment to how much he was loved. No one can ever take Chris's place in this world and we will all miss him forever. It's been almost 2 years now and we all miss him more everyday. I still have his phone number on my cell and I guess it will stay there as I can't seem to let it go. It hurts when I pass it and know noone will be on the other end to answer. I know Chris is around us everyday in spirit. I see him in his girls pictures that I keep posted in our truck as we travel. I still have tears but I know one day I will be able to see him again. Chris, your girls are growing up so beautiful and smart. I know you are watching them and are so proud as they continue to progress. Always know how much you are loved and missed. I want more than anything for justice to be brought about for you and all the other cruise victims. One day Carnival and the others will made to pay for not being more protective of their passengers. Everytime I hear songs played at your memorial I know you are right there with me and even thought it makes me want to cry at the same time I am comforted to know you are there. You will always be loved and greatly missed but I want to thank you for all the memories you have left us with and more than anythiing the 3 beautiful girls, Jesse, Shelby and Kaylee. Love from your mama
sorry i dont get on the site more often but i just cant bring myself to do it. its hard enough thinking about you but the pictures and all of the memories are too hard to bare sometimes.everyone tells me i look so much like you and its like i carry you everywhere with me...i just cant understand why this had to happen i get sooo angry sometimes and just dont know what to do. you were too great of a person to leave so early and i still need you. its sooo horrible to think about the fact that you wont be there for my graduation, my wedding, my children...they would deserve to know you!i still cant listen to the song L.O.V.E with out bawling because we had always planned to dance to that song at my wedding...i cant even be in the room at a wedding when the father and daughter dance is happening.People always say it gets easier with time but it really doesnt...im still just as depressed, angry, and confused as i was the day you died.I cant even express how much you are missed by me and EVERYONE.i love you so much!!!!!!
i miss u sssssssssssssssooooo-ooooooooo much / Hannah Fortuner (kind of daughter )Read >>
i miss u sssssssssssssssooooo-ooooooooo much / Hannah Fortuner (kind of daughter )
Dear Chris,
everyday i think about when i see my sisters cause they look so much like u i even see kaylee shed a tear every once in a while and it makes me start crying. well lifes goin good 4 everyone in the faimly. Shelby is in an acadamy i play softball in fastpicth and going in2 middle school PAMS like my sis did kaylee playing violn mom a stay at home mom dad still a GREAT dj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but everyday i still think about u because of all of the memories my mom put around the walls its like we have a faimly wall with tons of pics of us with u and when ever my friends come by they ask whos that????????????? and i tell them the whole story about the ship and crystal and us how we miss u STIL AND THAT WE ALWAYS WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!no matter what i will always see pics of u and save them 4ever and ever
i miss you so much. i wish you were still here with us. you know theres not a day that goes by and i dont wake up hopping it was all just a bad dream or just a joke. i wish u were still here with me comforting me when im crying or helping me up when im down, but tnats the thing you are maybe not were i can see you but to were i can feel you. myfriend josh just died about a month ago if you dont mind keep an eye on him for me. and Crystal if you are reading this i read your tribute and we do we forgive you and we understand why we all wish that things would've happend differently but it didnt and remember we all still love you SOOOOOOOOO very much and we wish we still talked to you. if u ever need to talk call us please we wish you would. we miss you
ANOTHER FATHER'S DAY IS HERE AND YOU AWAY FROM US. NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU AND MISS YOU. CHRIS NO MATTER WHAT EVER HAPPENED YOU WERE THE BEST DAD TO THE GIRLS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN LOUD AT TIMES BUT THEY ALWAYS KNEW THEY COULD COUNT ON YOU FOR WHATEVER THEY NEEDED. YOU WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM. THEY ARE GROWING INTO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WITH SO MUCH AHEAD OF THEM. KEEP WATCH OVER THEM AND KEEP THEM ON A GOOD PATH. WE LOVE YOU. MOM
i wouldve lit a candle but, theres a limit. / Jessie Caldwell (daughter)Read >>
i wouldve lit a candle but, theres a limit. / Jessie Caldwell (daughter)
Hey daddy, sorry i havent been on here in a while. i dont have a computer where i live. fathers day is coming up, as well as both of our birthdays. thinking of you still makes me cry. the other day i was sitting with Anthony and Shelby listening to one of the songs that was on that cd you used to play at bedtime for me ,shelby and kaylee when we were little. i needless to say ceased to keep any sort of composure.Anthony helps as much as he can. as much as anyone can really. he wishes he had known you and works to make sure that he is someone you would have approved of. he just told me to tell you he says hello. we all miss you greatly. its still hard to figure out how to deal with certain milestones(those past and those still yet to come) without you being there. we all try to do our best and at the very least keep you in our thoughts whenever we approach important descisions. i love you so much. still trying to think of something to do for you on fathers day. talk to you again as soon as i can.
Jessie
p.s.(to angela and crystal) if you happen to read this i would like to try and get in touch with both of you. if for nothing else than to mearly catch up. i dont know if this site automatically shows my e-mail or not so its J.Leigh7@yahoo.com any time you would like to contact me please feel free.
TO MY CHRIS / RITA (MOM)
WELL CHRIS, THE FORTH YEAR IS CLOSING IN ON US SO VERY SON. GOD, IT SEEMS JUST YESTERDAY I RECIEVED THE CALL NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO GET. I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHAT AGE YOUR CHILD IS, THE FACT IS THEY ARE ALWAYS A CHILD IN YOUR EYES. THE LOSS HAS BEEN SO HARD FOR US ALL. THE GIRLS ARE DOING BETTER THESE DAYS BUT THEY STILL MISS YOU TERRIBLY BUT ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE YOU PROUD. JESSE HAD HER OWN APT WITH SOME FRIENDS, SHELBY WILL BE IN I HOPE PREMED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND KAYLEE IS SO SWEET BUT STILL NEEDS YOUR GUIDANCE.
EVERYDAY I WAKE I AM FACED WITH YOUR PICTURE IN FRONT OF ME ON THE DASH AND THE REALITY THAT YOU ARE GONE FROM THIS EARTH. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN I FEEL YOU AROUND AND HELPING ME OUT OF BAD SITUATIONS.
I SAT LAST NIGHT ON THIS SITE JUST LOOKING AT ALL YOUR BABY PICTURES AND JUST WISHING I COULD GET THOSE YEARS BACK AND CHANGE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED. BUT I KNOW THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE SO I WATCH YOUR DVD ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND JUST CLOSE MY EYES AND REMEMBER YOU WITH MY HEART.
WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR STEPHANY TO JOIN YOU PLEASE TAKE CARE OF HER AND MAKE HER SAFE AND FREE FROM THE PAIN OF AIDS. THE THOUGHT OF YOU BOTH BEING GONE IS ALMOST MORE THAN I CAN BEAR BUT I KNOW SHE WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS AND I WILL JOIN YOU ONE DAY SOON.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY CHILD.
LOVE MOM Close
The only thing we take when we go.... / Christopher W. Caldwell (I did not know Chris )
Its not exactly true that "You can't take it with you."
The instant we leave this earth, every tangible possession we have amassed during our lives becomes an immediate irrelevancy to us.
The only thing we do take from this planet when the Train Conductor calls for our ticket, is our reputation - and that is determined, understood and remembered by those left behind.
It is based upon and judged by the nature of the relationships we formed with our family, friends and even those people we may not have gotten along with, and how we interacted with and cared for one another.
It's what this little "test" we call life is all about. It is how God measures our failures and successes.
To quote the Wizard of Oz "Remember, Tin Man, a heart is not judged by how much you love but my how much you are loved by others."
So judging by the things said and seen in these Memorial Pages about your Chris, and the size of his heart as told by his mother, daughters and friends, you might sum up his reputation in 5 little words: The man was a success. I did not know your Chris but we shared a few similarities. We have the same first and last names. We were born in the same year, 1967, some 6 months apart (though I was born in Connecticut and IT WAS COLD IN JANUARY!). We both have children for whom we'd fight a locomotive with a tennis racket, if we had to. And we both have ex-wives that we got along with.
I only hope that when I go, I can leave this world a reputation that shines as bright as the the one your Chris left for all of you.
DEAR SHELBY I JUST READ YOUR LETTER AND HAD SHED TEARS WHEN DONE. YOU ARE AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CARBOB COPY OF YOUR DADDY. HE WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD OF THAT FACT. HE WAS A CONTROL FREAK AND I GUESS HE PASSED IT ON TO YOU. NEVER BE ASHAMED OF HOW YOU ARE. YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL AS ARE THE OTHER GIRLS. YOUR DADDY IS ALWAYS WATCHING OVER YOU. JUST TRY TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES IN WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES IN OUR LIVES, JUST REMEMBER SOME ARE STUCK WITH US FOREVER. MAKE THE MOST OF THE SMARTS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN. YOU ARE ALWAYS LOVED BY US ALL. NEVER NEVER BE AFRAID TO CALL ME WITH ANYTHING. LOVE NANA
so much like you / Shleby Caldwell
hey daddy...i was just thinkin about you and all the things i loved about you...and all of the things that annoyed me to no end about you...and realized how much i am like you.you were one of the most stubborn people i had ever met and now i realize, so am i...the difference is that you would always apologise when you were wrong...i tend to have a problem with that...another thing is that i am a compleate control freak when i comes to getting things done right...which brings me back to the christmas tree...you would always let us decorate it...and then turn it and decorate it yours self...you and your tree, but im the same way.people say i complain like you too.whether it be the pain im in or the work i have to d most of the families responce is "ok chris". They say i look like you too. im glad that i can always have yu with me in those ways, even when i dont realize it. i love you so much!!!! Close
Happy Fall!! / Margaret Daughter Of ^i^ Nellie Buonpane Read >>
Happy Fall!! / Margaret Daughter Of ^i^ Nellie Buonpane
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY / Mom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! TODAY IS YOUR 40TH BIRTHDAY AND WE ARE HAVING A PARTY IN YOUR HONOR COMPLETE WITH BURGERS AND CAKE. THE GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY BABY HAS BEEN GIVEN AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF IT WAS A BOY OR GIRL. TODAY I AM SAD YOU AREN'T HERE BUT I KNOW YOU ARE CELEBRATING WITH THE ANGELS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH Close
Thinking of you today!! / Margaret Daughter Of ^i^ Nellie Buonpane Read >>
Thinking of you today!! / Margaret Daughter Of ^i^ Nellie Buonpane
Chris/ Gail Mom Crystal Earnhart (^l^ friends )
First I would like to wish you a great Birthday in Heaven dear sweet Angel Chris. You and my daughter have alot in common. First the name. There werent too many people that I would let call Crystal, Chris. Second both of you have a loved one as a truck driver. Crystals dad drives over the road and loves it. I guess you have to in order to be able to do it. And last but not least of all you both love dolphins. Now you both can swim with the dolphins and ride up in the big rig in the sky. My deepest condolences go out to you and your family. Crystals 2nd Angelversary was yesterday and I know how hard it is to go on with out our loved ones. Im here for you if you ever need to talk or vent. It helps once in a while. Love to you and your family. Gail Again Happy Birthday! Close
PRECIOUS CHRIS, / ROSE GRMA TO ANGEL BRITTANY SYFERT Read >>
PRECIOUS CHRIS, / ROSE GRMA TO ANGEL BRITTANY SYFERT
THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, ON THIS SPECIAL DAY. IT'S YOUR 40TH BIRTHDAY, HOPE YOU HAVE LOTS OF SPECIAL ANGEL FRIENDS WITH YOU TO ENJOY YOUR DAY. SENDING LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL.
remembering your angel on his birthday day / Fran Gates Wife Of Angel Dave (angel friend )Read >>
remembering your angel on his birthday day / Fran Gates Wife Of Angel Dave (angel friend ) Close
Happy 40th Birthday Chris! / Janice Barham ~. Mom To Isabella Barham (Angel Friend )Read >>
Happy 40th Birthday Chris! / Janice Barham ~. Mom To Isabella Barham (Angel Friend )
I was brought to Chris' website through Angel Families, and I was drawn to how many similarities there were in Chris' life and mine. First, I have been a Disc Jockey for over ten years. I love what I do, and I am most happy when I am performing for a crowd. I have owned my own company for almost five years in Florida. Second, my Dad is a trucker, and has been for all of my life. He makes me very proud, as I am sure that Chris is very proud of his Mom! Third, my first child was born on July 15, 2007. She is a beautiful baby girl, and will turn 3 on Sunday. Her only disappointment is that I can't make her baby sister come to the party. I have told her that she will party in Heaven for her, as they will be partying for Chris that day!!!
Happy Birthday in Heaven Chris!! Wrap your Angel wings around your Mom, your daughters, and all of your family! Let them know that you are always with them!!
Sincerely, Janice Barham Mommy to 3 Earth Angels & 1 Heavenly Angel Close
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY / Mom
HOW CAN IT BE THAT YOU AREN'T WITH US TO CELEBRATE YOUR 40TH BIRTHDAY? IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WERE JUST A LITTLE BOY A SHORT TIME AGO, WHERE DID THE TIME GO AND IF WE KNEW THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW, WE WOULD HAVE MADE YOUR LIFE SO MUCH BETTER. I PRAY YOU HAVE FORGIVEN ME FOR ALL THE BAD STUFF. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN IS GOOD AND WHILE YOU ARE CELEBRATING WATCH OVER US AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOU ARE OK. WE LOVE YOU MOM AND GEORGE Close
Tributes and Condolences
