~ DEMI BRAE CUCCIA ~ TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
August 14 1991 - August 15 2007  | |  END TEEN DATING VIOLENCE THROUGH EDUCATION
This Online Memorial is being created in Loving Memory of Demi Brae Cuccia,
whose life story will be told throughout this memorial website.
Please sign Demi's guest book
and let us know you came to visit.
We will always remember Demi... forever.
Each life created by God belongs to a family and hopefully this precious life is always cherished and thoughtfully remembered. From the very beginning every person has a unique story with chapters that bookmark, - Birthdays – Anniversaries – Seasons and Events. Those with the affinity of “kinship of spirit” may share their story.
Throughout the years and over the course of time only a few will have the privilege to experience, develop and sustain a close interpersonal relationship of human bonding with family members or friends.
This bonding is a mutual, interactive process of attachment that develops between family and / or friends, and is characterized by emotions such as affection and trust.
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Words are powerful. They point beyond themselves as a signpost illuminating a greater reality. But there are times when words are not enough.
There are mysteries too deep that lie beyond their reach, such as when a joy experienced is too great, or sorrows are too deep to be expressed.
In such encounters words seem rudimentary and inadequate. Nothing written can adequately capture the depth of what is being experienced or contemplated.
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This Memorial is for Demi,
Our Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter and Friend.
Your smile and kindness warmed the hearts of all you met. Sadly it has now been 5 years, - Demi since you left us and started your new life in Heaven, but there isn't a day
that goes by that you are not remembered.
Always with a smile and always with pain in our heart
and tears in our eyes with our loss of you. You are so loved and missed. | | | 
Some people think that because it has now been - 5 years - the pain is less,
but that is not true.
Sadly, some people know the excruciating pain and anguish we live with every day.
Demi, you made our family complete, and now there is a huge void in our lives that no one will ever fill. Each day is a chore to get thru but we have no choice but to continue on, but knowing someday again we will be reunited helps us thru.
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So many times we wish for you to walk back thru the door or to hear your laughter, or even to see that frown. What we would give to just be able to sit and talk with you again and to share a hug. Demi was a very giving and loving person.
She was very family oriented and always willing to do for others. You would have made such a good mommy.
But I know you are there with other teenagers who departed too early, and amongst all the little angels that God has picked out especially for you to watch over and too love. We love you and miss you sweetheart so much.
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It hurts so much to have the family together and to look around and you are not there with us. But your faith in God never faltered. For now you are our own special angel, and we know regardless what we do or where we are, you walk beside us and that gives us strength to carry on. May you always know just how much we love
you and miss you and we ask God to keep you close to Him and in His loving care until once again we can be reunited.
God Bless You Demi.
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Beautiful Daughter, Sister,
Granddaughter, Friend
They lingered near the entrance, it seemed a line went on for miles, Tears and sobs were heard throughout, so many faces, without a smile. And so many questions filled their minds, not one of them understood; How God could take Demi away, someone so young and truly good.
For Demi gave of herself, to anyone around in need, there wasn't a day that didn't go by, without Demi performing good deeds. She visited the local rest home, understood the hardships faced by the old, respected all the residents, and listened to the stories they told. For she knew someday she could be there, standing alone in their place, So Demi cherished their wisdom, and the smiles she brought to their face. | | | 
Two parents stood in anguish, fighting hard and trying to grasp, how a tragic night, would change their lives oh in just a snap. And oh how their minds filled with questions, and how they just couldn't quite understand How God could take their daughter away with the swiftness of his hand. For Demi gave them respect, she never gave them hard times, and she even did it in a way that was always kind. For she knew that someday she could be there, having a daughter of her own, So Demi cherished her parents, and the love she had at home. | | | 
Classmates circled in silence, struggling just to comprehend, Bewildered by what John had done, ( Murder ) that had robbed them of their good friend.
How in the world did it happen, why didn't God intervene? Why did God have to take Demi, who was filled with such hope and dreams?
Who always to them was a true friend, and to anyone in need. She didn't judge others by class, their color, their race or creed. For she knew someday she could be there, needing someone to turn to, So Demi valued each person, offering friendship so loyal and true.
There were pictures displayed all around, allowing everyone present to see, Times with Demi alive and well, times that never again were to be.
There was Demi wearing her cheerleading outfit, smiling her beautiful grin, playing with Jake and Saige, who knew the days were thin? Pictures from such a short lifetime, a life that no longer would be, and so many days that lay ahead, moments Demi would not get to see.
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And the scent of bouquets of flowers, overpowered the much crowded room, offering of sympathy for a life which had ended so tragically soon. And in their grief and their sorrow, no one knew what they should say, How to make some kind of sense of, what had led them there to that day.
And from somewhere in the distance, music filtered its way through the room; A CD was playing of Demi’s favorite tunes. How in the world could they bear it, how would they ever go on? Why had God taken Demi, how did things go so horribly wrong? | | | 
In his hands he held Demi's Bible; he was to read from its pages that day, to try and make sense of what happened, why Demi's life was taken away. And as all eyes focused upon him, people sobbed all around from their seats, the pastor from Demi's church, wondered what words he should speak.
For how could he help bring them comfort, to put everyone's mind at rest, it seemed assuredly certain, God was putting his faith to the test?
And there with all eyes upon him, hundreds standing and sitting around, Inside Demi's bible was a piece of paper that was found.
And though it seemed impossible, it appeared God intervened with a plan, for the words on the paper before him, had been written by Demi's own hand.
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So please listen intently as Demi's words fill the air, the words she speaks if you listen, you'll feel that she is there.
” The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation: He is my God and I will praise Him: my Father God and I will exalt Him". | | | 
So Please Bow your head and please pray, this is a valuable lesson Demi leaves to you today. To be able to work through your sorrow, to pick yourself off the ground, and instead of living in sadness, choose to spread Demi's message around.
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For God can't be blamed for our pain, we can't always hope for sunshine, we must see the beauty in rain.
Take pride in the wisdom of knowing, that now she stands next to God's side, For Demi was worthy of Heaven, she left many good things behind.
I Love You, MOM
August 14, 2012
As family and friends approach the 5th anniversary after the tragic murder of our 16 year old granddaughter Demi, from Teenage Domestic Violence, its time to reflect on who Demi was and the events that have occurred since that tragic day of August 15, 2007.
Demi was a vibrant, caring, compassionate person since day 1, and knew the extraordinarily meaning of family values and team strength and practiced those virtues in all aspects of her life. Being a cheerleader of Gateway’s senior high school cheerleading squad, taught her to reach out, to support others no matter how difficult the circumstances.
Demi reached out to her whole family and peers, with respect and dignity and questioned why others sometimes treat people so mean. She was one beautiful loving teenager that didn’t have a mean spirited or selfish or prideful streak in her. As people gather to remember Demi, ..... try to grasp the virtues and character that made her so special to family and friends.
After August 15, 2007 - Demi’s mother Jodi continued to raise Demi’s brother Jake (age 18) and her sister Saige (age 13) as a single parent.
In the days, weeks, months, and years following Demi’s tragic death, the grief, shock, pain and despair that she and her children endured was beyond the pale of human countenance. The battle to support her children physically providing a home for her family, financially, mentally, and spiritually reached new heights month after month and year after year.
Looking back at the last 5 years, Jodi and her children have survived the darkest pits of despair and all of the confusing directions she and her children endured to escape the pain of Demi’s death by murder from an ex boyfriend.
Jodi has my support and admiration for guiding her children through many raging storms of confusing emotions.
Her un-yielding love, perseverance and always being there for her children, has helped them to take back and retain the attributes of kindness and caring, so similar to those of their sister Demi.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin said the House of Representatives unanimously adopted his resolution (H.R. 996) naming
Oct. 6, 2010 "Demi Brae Cuccia Day" in Pennsylvania.
"This is for Demi, this is for Demi's family and this is for all teens in Pennsylvania," Conklin said. "I will continue to work to raise awareness of the issue of teen dating violence and hopefully prevent the spread of this growing problem.
"I have stood with Demi's family to advocate for this issue and from this experience I have learned that through Demi's tragedy we can make a difference in the lives of our young teens," said Conklin.
The Monroeville teen was killed by her ex-boyfriend the day after her 16th birthday.
Conklin is the prime sponsor of a bill (H.B. 2026) that would require dating violence warning signs and other teen-dating violence curriculum to be taught in middle schools and high schools in the state.
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