Talayia Marie Nemo

There aren’t enough letters to form words to describe the feeling of a husband losing his young bride, a mother outliving her daughter, or 6 young children who will grow up without their mom. What we can illustrate, are the honors Talayia achieved and the lessons she taught everyone along the way.

Talayia graduated from Stratford University, with a degree in Applied Science with a 4.0. She went on to become a Medical Assistant while Tony was deployed, and attained this while being a pregnant mother of 3.

The most important thing to Talayia was having a large family. It was her “life’s dream”, as she often said, to fall in love, get married, and have a big family. With a husband who adored her through life’s inequitable trials and tribulations and 6 beautiful children, one can say she achieved her dreams.

Remarkably, Talayia taught us lessons that will live on as her legacy and perpetual gift to us: Love hard. Don’t listen to the pessimists. Be proud to live in Minnesota. Create your own happiness. It didn’t make a difference if Tony, Talayia, and the kids were moving across the country for the Navy, or vacationing in a cabin deep in the Smoky Mountains, they were together and nothing was more important to her.

Her indomitable spirit has inspired so many of us to love and to hug and to smile and laugh in the face of struggle. Whether it was losing her beloved Reese this past spring or having her 4th invasive brain surgery, she had jokes and she had courage and those attributes were limitless.

Talayia thrived in her short 29 years. She is going to miss out on so much physically here on earth, but her essence for life’s experiences will live on in Tony. Her beauty, which was present even as she took her final breath alongside her family, is seen in Isabella, Alani, and Grace. Her intelligence is seen in her eldest Christopher. Her persistence is seen in Anthony, and her everlasting smile is seen on little Elijah.

Talayia’s optimistic attitude will be missed by all but will live on through her family. Keep them close. Don’t forget about them after the glitter settles. Above everything, love your family, heal past wounds and hug often. We never know when those opportunities will be stolen from us.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials.

The service is private, for immediate family only, but close family and friends are welcome to meet us at the burial site at 11:30 am to pay their final respects. Inquire with the family for the location.