Cole Young was amazing grace.
Anyone who met Cole knew what it was to encounter the love of God.
Not that Cole was perfect or able to turn water into wine.
But he could turn whine into gratitude.
Special Needs
Cole was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, which is caused by the deletion of a small segment of chromosome 22.
Typical of DiGeorge, he suffered for eighteen years from respiratory difficulties, heart murmur, frequent infections and eventually, organ failure.
In some circles, Cole was known as having “special needs.”
In the circles that knew him best he was known as serving “special needs.”
Had a bad day? Cole could lift your spirit. Feeling sorry for yourself because life dealt you an unfair hand? He made you thankful for what you have.
Unconditional love? He offered his own special brand of affirmation with no strings attached.
Curiosity? He found wonder in the ordinary.
Smiles? The best came from Cole.
A Sacred Trust
Cole was a gift from God to his parents, Jocelyn and Ken. They treated him as a sacred trust.
A blessing to every family member, friend, teacher, coach and co-worker.
He loved people and food. Jack’s Burger Shack was not only where he worked, it was his favorite place to eat.
Cole’s employer closed the store on the night of his memorial so his coworkers could say goodbye to their dear friend.
An Endless Melody
Cole had an eclectic taste in music. There are thousands of tunes in his playlist from Justin Bieber to Hillsong worship.
He was a young gun with a guitar, and was the biggest fan of his step dad, Dean Lonsdale’s band the Ramifications.
“Everybody’s got a song,” goes the lyric from a worship song Pastor Sean Morton leads at Cole’s church – North Pointe.
Cole’s life was an endless melody.
“Do not judge a song by its duration
Nor by the number of its notes
Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful
And when something has enriched your life
And when its melody lingers on in your heart
Is it unfinished?
Or is it endless?”
What’s Happening?
Cole loved Jesus and trusted Him with his life and salvation. He gave us a glimpse into the divine.
Now, he’s free of his pain.
Home free in heaven. Forever Young.
Celebrating with his own dance moves.
A special reminder of how we should approach life.
APPLICATION: Did you know Cole? Do you know someone like Cole? Someone who meets special needs? Please share a bit of their story in the comments below. Thank you.
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I had the pleasure of knowing Cole through his high school, Bellerose (BCHS) in St. Albert. His smile was one of my favourite smiles. You just didn’t see his smile, you felt it! I often thought that Cole must have grown up in a wonderful, loving family to be such a cool and kind young man and that was evident at his Celebration of Life on Saturday. God’s blessings to his family!
I did not know Cole, but reading what Pastor Bob has said , I feel I have known him. I’m sorry I did not have the pleasure of meeting this beautiful young man on earth. My hugs to the family. What a glorious reception he must have had from his creator
I coached Cole in floor hockey and even though he wasn’t with the team long, his impact and presence was missed, I appreciated his laughter and the infectious smile he always had…it was an honour to have coached him..the earth lost an angel
We met Cole through his Uncle & Auntie (Darren & Kimberly Kluthe). Cole could light up a room with his smile and had a gift of making the main thing really the main thing…… that was to be present with who he was with and connect. To watch Cole with his Mom and hear both of them laugh …loud and from the heart was precious! In Uncle Darren’s eyes Cole could do no wrong and Uncle Darren was Cole’s hero along with his cousins and all of his Auntie’s & Uncle’s.
One of my favorite pictures of Coles is with his Grandpa George Kluthe when they were in hospital and Grandpa George had his arm on Coles shoulders and the picture captured their love in their smiles and their eyes!
Cole did not discriminate but loved unconditionally. Cole is an anchor of hope because of his love and his faith!
I never had the pleasure of meeting Cole but hearing about him from my granddaughter Alyssa, (Cole’s girlfriend), and all the family, I heard all good things about him. His pictures alone tells a story about a very, very, good person without having to meet him.
I remember being in Alyssa’s room the last time I was up for a visit, and I asked her how Cole was and her eyes and her whole face just lit up. She really did love Cole and I pray that I will see her eyes light up like that again some day. Cole was good for Alyssa – he will be missed by many but we have to get peace just knowing that he no longer suffers. Rest In Peace Cole!
We new and loved Cole with a special friendship emanating from his infectious smile and spontaneous laughter. Cole always had a happy positive outlook on life and celebrated & enjoyed everyday to the fullest which I believe rubbed off on all of us that were lucky enough to know him. He loved to show me his remote control model car which he could drive around the yard with amazing skill & laugh at me when I couldn’t quite get the hang of driving it. Whether it was shooting baskets with him or golfing or letting him drive you around in the Quad, you could see he had a special talent for all of these and most of all enjoyed entertaining you with a smile and twinkle in his eye. I enjoyed going to Jacks Burger Bar on Saturday when he was working and ask him what I should have to eat … & he always told me .. have the Barbecue Crunch Burger with fries & a milkshake. I think it was his favorite .. and I can tell you it is hard to beat. This last summer I watched the Hot August Nights car parade down town in St. Albert with Cole and he was in good spirits and had his old smile back even though he had recently endured the last several months in hospital. He told me now that he was turning 18 that week, he was saving for a truck to drive in the winter & a motorcycle to drive in the summer. That’s the last time I saw Cole & his smiling face. That’s how I will always remember Cole , a beautiful special boy.