Stephanie Gross

Stephanie Gross - Stephanie was the quintessential big sister. While she was my step sister, we never called each other that, only "sister" and "sisters always". Stephanie had a big, beautiful smile and an infectious laugh. She wasn't afraid of her individuality and always encouraged me to not only be true to myself, but to let others see the real me too, the one she saw and loved. It wasn't until after her death that I took her advice. Stephanie struggled with mental health and addiction issues, but had been in recovery and pursuing her GED when a relapse took her life. I used to be angry at her for abandoning our plans for the future, and plans that she had made with others. I've since taken my grief and followed it into the field of social work, dedicating my life to helping others, and living it for both Stephanie and I now.