(continued...) I say goodbye to you knowing that we ‘saw’ each other. And that we both deeply loved the fullness of what the other brought into the world: you with your deep roots, determination (some might say stubbornness), and quick awe of Colorado; me with my far flung adventures, constant restlessness (some might call anxiety), and need to push boundaries. Ours was not a consistent friendship over the past 20 years, but it was deep - built on showing up for each other in both celebrations and hard places. Thank you for letting me show up for your last hard place. It was an honor. 
Someone asked me what rituals I’ll keep to remember you. I don’t know yet. But this morning, just a bit after your memorial would have ended in Colorado, my daughter saw me crying. She then asked what your favorite color was. I told her, purple. She quietly brought me coffee in her purple mug - also her favorite color. In that gesture, I felt your tenderness — an echo of the summer when we brought offerings to each other in moments of heartbreak - tissues, frozen fruit, pickles, ice cream and coffee (for me). We understood that neither of us had words. I may need my own purple mug.
I wish I could hug you again. I wish we could still talk at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. Yours was a rare friendship. You left too soon, and you knew it. Language fails me when I try to describe what that means for those of us that loved you. 
Rest well my friend.

Goodbye Andrea Daihl 
Today I woke up at 3 a.m. in Lusaka without an alarm. It was just about an hour into your memorial service. My spirit restless knowing there was a group of people gathered in Colorado who loved you and I wasn’t there. This is my tribute to you. 
I remember showing up to your house May 2024, weeks after your diagnosis. We hadn’t seen each other in seven years. When I first learned that you were ill, I wasn’t sure if you’d want me back in your life. But you made it clear: if I was willing to show up, you wanted me there. The years and distance hadn’t diminished the depth of our friendship. So four weeks later, Rob picked me up from the Denver airport, and I plopped back into your life. We found that easy rhythm again, as if decades hadn’t passed since we lived together in the Kittridge dorms in CU Boulder. 
I’ve wondered why it was so natural for us to reconnect in this season of your life. I think it has to do with our friendship being forged during my summer of wandering and your summer of heartbreak. That summer, I plopped into your dorm room - living rent free on your top bunk. I was chasing a dream of going into the ministry that i already had misgivings about, and you were reeling from a breakup up with the man who would later become your husband. It was a summer defined by both desperate tears and the kind of ridiculous laughter that sits just beside sorrow. That was the summer we became each other’s people.
But then life took us in wildly different directions - until you got sick. This note is my “thank you” to you, because you didn’t have to bring me back into your life at the moment when your time became most precious. You didn’t have to let me walk with you as you neared the edge. I’ll aways be grateful for last 15 months of weekly conversations, tears, laughter, sorrows and joys - and one solid hike, right at the end. (continued...)

Fall 2011. Seems like yesterday. First time Mom and First time Grandma

(message 2/2)

One fond memory was when about a dozen of us took a spring break trip to El Paso. The purpose of the trip was to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity, but of course to have fun and make memories too. The picture I've chosen here is a fun one with some of Andrea's closest friends, Alannah and Kate, at some gas station along the way, and it just shows her fun spirit. Isn't it great when even things like gas station stops can leave indelible marks? The long drive there from Boulder made for long chats and talking about life... and Rob... and dating life. The trip was a blast because we helped build a house, visited Juarez, and on our return, took epic pictures at White Sands National Park. But there I was, a kid on spring break in college, and my main impression was more about those talks.

To my then-young eyes, from the beginning, Andrea and Rob's relationship was real. It was grown. Later, they'd say they had needed to mature, but even then they had been through challenges and real-world difficulties that I had no idea about, having most of my knowledge from movies or other second hand stories. I will always give them credit for fighting for their relationship and putting in the effort to make it work. It was that same period that I first heard that love is a choice, as opposed to cupid or butterflies. I can point to those two as the prime example I saw from my peers.

When people miss their time in college and feel like they can remember it as vividly as more recent events, this is why. It's because they've known people like Andrea.

(message 1/2)

Andrea was a close friend in college. We became Christians around the same time and so "grew up in the faith" together. This means that while you are rapidly changing as you leave home and learn how to live on your own, you're also dealing with the complexity of your old worldviews being challenged and trying to mend your ways. This can result in loneliness as you leave your old world behind. But on the upside, you feel this kinship with your new family, and before too long, loneliness becomes the least of your worries. We'd see each other multiple times per week. Being fellow engineers, when we'd see each other at our "midweek" church service looking harried from a grueling week of lectures and labs, we'd swap stories to help each other rally. We were in the fight together.

I remember going with Andrea and others over to Rob's apartment many times. One of my favorite memories was playing "bigger or better", a game where we'd pair up and, starting with a penny, go around the apartment complex knocking on doors and asking for something bigger or better than a penny. Andrea had a soft voice, one that made whoever answered the door want to listen. People were always so generous and eager to help.

Our gang grew so close, and we could be real with each other. I think Andrea was really good at this. She impressed me with how she could be emotional, feeling frustrated, disappointed, etc, but talk about the emotions in a clear way. College is a whirlwind with so many things going on, so one nice thing is when you can get a breather in and have lunch with friends. I remember one lunch together with her where I told her some things that were going on, and she gave some reassuring encouragement. I told her I hoped it could "always be like this", because I was struggling with my faith, mainly the belief in God, but I never wanted the feeling of purpose and family to not be there for me, thinking in very practical terms of the camaraderie of a shared meal.

Her contagious enthusiasm and never ending support meant so much to me. She was there not only as we brought babies into the world but helped me sell my house in Colorado and transition to Oklahoma. She will never be forgotten.

Sending prayers and peace to Andrea’s family. I remember her as a very beautiful soul. May you find her in your joys. Heaven is so wonderful with their new angel.

Today (August 9th,2025) would have marked our 22nd wedding anniversary -a milestone with special meaning for me. This is the last anniversary where I can say I’ve been married to Andrea for more than half my life. However, it will be many years before I’ve known her for less than half my life. And even when that day comes, one truth will remain: she shaped me in ways that time can never undo.

I have shared the story of how we meet and got married but is was far too long to post on this platform.  You can see that epic post on facebook. 
https://www.facebook.com/rob.daihl/posts/pfbid0NYD9NCuqeagJfGdBnfTfA3xxExWvw4SsyJ4wiPnRoRQ1xeJrCYmf2zowPgXx1eKDl

Andrea's Urn with her Ashes are now back home.  I chose urn design to honor her woodworking. The engraving font reminded me the most of the official federal park signage and survey monument font, which is fitting as so many of our family memories and adventures took place at federal and state parks and many many national forests.

I think I can say that we have been to every National Forest in Colorado, there we only a few wilderness areas that we did not get to.

Dear Andrea,
We played and laughed so much as kids and teens. I remember launching rockets in your parents' yard, playing games into the night, feeling close friendship with you even at our young age, celebrating our outstanding 6th grader awards at our respective schools, warming up for track and running in the snow (remember the elbows?), singing and giggling on the bus rides to swim & diving meets. Our circle of friends gathering at the locker each morning of senior year.

As I think of you, your energy and excitement about life come to mind. You were always kind and welcoming. 

It was several years ago now that we hiked in Castlewood Canyon together - as grown women living our adult lives. I was so glad we met up that day. I always think of you when I hike in Castlewood Canyon.

Rob, Cameron, Evan, Greg, Terry, and Joe, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Hold one another close. I am sending you my love.

Andrea, tonight I light a candle in your honor. And when I look up at the night sky, I'll know you're up there twinkling back at us. 

Love,
Shauna

I don't have a picture for this memory but I thought I would share it here anyway. I was just thinking the other day about when I was in college with Andrea. It was funny because there was a short time where her and Rob were broken up and they were not dating. Somehow, they always ended up going on double dates together. I would go on a date with Rob, and Andrea would go on a date with another brother. One of my favorite double dates we went on was when the brothers cooked for us sisters. This happened more than once but I think on this particular date, the brothers made this really fancy dinner with sauces and steak and all kinds of fantastic things. Rob was and is such a a great cook.  I was so glad I got to enjoy the great company and the delicious food!! On this date, Rob and Andrea were both there, but we're not on the same date together.  Somehow they stayed in the same realm with each other. Andrea always wanted to be close to Rob. I loved watching their relationship all the way through. The last story that Rob and Andrea told me together was the story about how they met and how they started their relationship in high school. I love that! I got to see so much of that personally. I may not have known them in high school, but I got to see their love grow from very early on. Their love is something of fairytales.

I'm heartbroken over the loss of my friend Andrea. She was more than a friend—she was family. Her laughter, her loyalty, and the way she showed up for people will always stay with me. I miss her more than words can say

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Andrea Hope Daihl

3 février 1982 – 29 juillet 2025

Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel

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