On June 8th, our family suffered the irreparable loss of our beautiful, sweet Jaime. We are heartbroken. We know there is no way but forward, and our way forward will always be holding Jaime’s hand.
Jaime suffered from serious depression for years, but he lived vibrantly. He nurtured close relationships with his family and his many friends; he spent endless hours learning about cooking, politics, and philosophy; he was one course away from finishing his degree in Computer Science with a minor in Philosophy at UVic; he started to learn to play guitar to accompany the powerful singing voice that he was yet to show off; he cooked delicious dinners for his family every day; he explored restaurants, coffee shops, and bookshops in Victoria; he consumed and contemplated books, movies, TV shows, and his special brand of memes; he fell deeply in love with Oliver Guerrero in 2018 and planned to marry him in the fall of 2021.
Jaime lived with the whole world in his eyes. He contemplated the biggest questions and dared to answer them. From a very young age, his understanding of the world reached far beyond his years. His intellectual curiosity motivated him to explore a vast array of topics, challenge the status quo, and maintain a high degree of integrity. He saw every injustice, every unkindness, every act of discrimination, every abuse of power for what it was. He refused to disconnect from his internal compass.
Jaime was focused on the future. In 2021 he planned to finish his degree, get a programming job, reunite with his fiancé Oliver in Mexico, and get married. Together they would return to live in Canada. He dreamt of opening his own restaurant and starting a family. We know he would have been a fantastic husband, father, and restaurateur as he was brother, son, and family chef.
Jaime did not just want to survive, he wanted to live courageously and meaningfully. Jaime was not a fading light, but a beacon that shone fiercely through the darkness. He loved and listened to us, he challenged us. He demanded that we follow his lead in being honest with ourselves so we could be honest with each other. He cared too much about his relationships to let little cracks spread into fractures. Despite his struggles, he supported his loved ones with so much strength and care. He lived with the intention that he once wrote in a letter to his sister:
“Never let sadness hinder your ability to be the best that you can be.”
Mental illness is tremendously difficult to navigate. As a family we talked and discussed things, we reminded each other how much we loved one another, and spent a beautiful though difficult year close together after the pandemic reunited us. We interpreted Jaime’s vitality as a sign that this tragedy could not happen. We wish we could turn back time and rewrite this story.
Jaime believed that living is about realizing a vision. He insisted that we should not just wave away or tear down what was wrong, but also create in its place. We will mourn him and grow into the void that he left behind. Jaime’s philosophy is our guiding light as we move forward. Everything we owed him and wished to give him we vow to pay forward with courage and integrity like his.
We want to thank our friends and family for sharing in our grief and for each act of kindness that has sparked a light in our heavy hearts. Going forward, we would like to ask you to consider the following four things to continue to support us through this trying time:
Write your memories of Jaime and share them with us so we may treasure and share them with generations to come.
Donate any amount to GoFundMe – Jaime for Mexico that will be used to support causes dear to Jaime’s heart in Mexico, including supporting Oliver with basic necessities and medical bills. With enough funds, we will also direct the money to support underprivileged kids through established foundations. gofund.me/e9c8df73
Seek professional help if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health. Treat it with the seriousness and respect that you would any other life-threatening illness. We need to remove the stigma and open lines of communication. Do not assume you always have more time.
Pray for Jaime and for us. God is love.
We are planning a celebration of life in Jaime’s honour on Saturday, July 3rd. More information will be shared once we have confirmation of the removal of Covid restrictions to be announced around July 1st.
Debbie, Juan Carlos, Mariana, Juanca and Dani
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jaime Gallegos Dupuis 2021..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique