Honoring Bradyn Bronkowski

There is no better way to honor the passing of a loved one, then to find a way to bring a legacy to the life they lived so well.

Bradyn Bronkowski will forever be remembered to those whole hold her dear as a blessing to anyone's life she touched. Her sudden passing will leave a mark on all of our hearts for the rest of our days surely, but what we can do in times of trial is to turn those ashes into something beautiful. That is exactly what Bradyn would want. 

We want to honor her for who she was: a care taker of animals of all kind. She loved nothing more then to spend her days riding her horse and working at the Charles Paddock Zoo. Animals brought her unconditional love that she could return to them along with solace and healing. Animals truly were Bradyn's best form of therapy as she worked to live with a chronic pain condition for the last four years of her life called CRPS. Everyday she put her own pain aside, to tend to the care of her horse, many animals at home, and also the animals of the Charles Paddock Zoo. 

To honor the courageous life that she lead, Bradyn's parents: Jon and Charity Bronkowski, Her brother: Michael Bronkowski, Myself: Andrea Ellis (Her aunt as coordinator of this fundraiser),  along side the representatives at Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero California, have decided to create this fundraiser in-lieu of flowers, memorial service donations, etc...

The money raised here will be used to not only create a memorial for Bradyn and the work she did at the zoo, but to also help upgrade the Lemur Exhibit at the zoo, which was where Bradyn spent much of her time working. She was always finding ways to make contributions to the zoo herself and this would help facilitate the Zoo in creating a state of the art breeding facility for their Lemurs. We know that nothing in this world would bring Bradyn more joy then to watch from above as the people she cared most about down here, continue her work to help save, shelter, and love on animals of all kinds. 

Bradyn may have only been 18 years old at the time of her passing, but she endured more then many do in a lifetime. And she did it with love in her heart, a smile on her face, and she gave tirelessly to the animals who depended on her. She knew God and his love, and truly lead her life by this verse:

"Blessed is she who has believed the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" Luke 1:45

His promises to her have been fulfilled as her body was restored as she entered his kingdom. We know she is shining brightly above us surrounded by creatures of all kinds, and mostly, the horses she loved so much. And if there is anything she would want those of us who she left behind to remember...it is this:

"Always remember you are BRAVER then you Believe, STRONGER then you Seem, SMARTER than you Think and LOVED more than You Know." - Winnie the Pooh