Cole Grad

     Our wonderful boy, Cole Riley Grad, began his adventure in this world on February 15^th, 2002. From his first breath, Cole was the first. First child to Angela & Jessie Grad, first grandchild to Joe & Joy Grad & Sam & Laurie Szendre.  Also, the first nephew to Scott & Mike Szendre & first in being a big brother to Aiden & Dylan Grad. Cole was the first to teach his Mom & Dad that you can love someone so fiercely that it takes your breath away.  He showed us what true boundless joy feels like when your child hugs you with all his might & how you will never be more proud of anything in life until your own child does it.    

Cole will forever be remembered as loving, kind, smart, compassionate, adventurous, loyal, hard working & funny to everyone who knew him.  Cole was a big kid at  6' 3", but that giant body held the heart of a boy who's tenderness & silliness was only matched by his compassion & love for his friends & family.  His constant & contagious smile & big hugs would envelop you. Cole frequently told all his family that he loved them, always ending a phone call with “I love you”, regardless of how cool he became as a teen. He loved his family & friends with his whole heart, always seeing the best in everyone & would try to remind us to do the same. He loved all animals, most of all his beloved dogs.  Even at 15, he could not sleep unless his dog was at his side in bed. 

  In the short time he was here on earth, Cole was passionate about living his life to the fullest.  Cole’s most favorite things were spending time with family & friends, fishing year round, dirt biking in the dunes, tackling an opponent for his Chiawana football team, snuggling his dogs, wrestling with his little brothers in the pool, sitting around a big bonfire & ordering the biggest plate of food he could find on the menu. Cole was also passionate about wakeboarding, hunting, exploring mountain trails, camping, snow skiing, playing baseball & umpiring for Pasco Little League. 

Celebrating & honoring Cole’s beautiful life will be carried on through his parents Jessie & Angela;  brothers Aiden & Dylan; grandparents Sam & Laurie Szendre, Joe & Sharon Grad, Manuel & Ann Hernandez, Clarence & Shirley Strand; aunts & uncles Scott & Ashley Szendre, Mike & Lauren Szendre, Sandi Voogd, Larry & Sandi Gross, Chuck & Sue Sams, Jeff & Davina Hooper & Steve & Terri Szendre. He is loved deeply by his many cousins that include the Henckel's, Stachofsky's, Gross's, Stuhlmiller's & Hooper's. He is especially missed by his little pea, to his big pea in the pod, his beloved little cousin Piper Szendre. 

We would like to send out a special thank you to the Pasco Firefighters, EMTs, Pasco Water Rescue & the Kadlec Hospital ER doctors & nurses who all valiantly went above & beyond in trying to save our Cole. We cannot thank you enough for your efforts. Also, thank you to Sightlife for helping Cole give others the gift of sight with his cornea donation. 

Please join us in a celebration honoring our beloved Coley on Friday August 18th, 2pm @ First Baptist Church of Richland, 1107 Wright Ave Richland WA 99354. Reception to follow.

 Cole gave us 15 years of love & joy. We are grateful for the time we shared with him here on this earth. We have no doubt that he is tackling some serious hill climbs in heaven while beaming that beautiful smile of his.