Eli Brookens, 16, passed away on October 8, 2016. Eli, originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, lived in Waterbury, Vermont, with his mom, Colleen Ovelman, his dad, Bob Brookens, and his three siblings, Maya, Xavier and Caleb. He also leaves behind his grandparents, Caryle Glah and Per Kristian Ullevalseter, Joe Ovelman and Mary Beth and Miguel Castillo; as well as his uncles, Dave and Joe Ovelman, and aunt, Clare Ovelman, and cousins. Really, what he leaves behind is a community of friends and family that love him for his humor, his joy, his understated wisdom and his eternal sunshine.
Eli was an 11th-grade student at Harwood Union High School and he devoted himself to what mattered most to him: soccer, skiing, music. Nothing brought him more peace than floating through snow, flying down the mountain. Eli had an innate way of seeing the best in those around him. He was a hero to his siblings, and a bit of a hero to us all.
A service to celebrate Eli’s life will be held at the Midway Lodge at Stowe Mountain at 3 p.m. on October 15, 2016. If anyone has a photo of Eli that they would like to share, there will be boards at the service on which to post photos.
Instead of flowers, we ask that those wishing to make a memorial donation help us to support others in the activities that Eli loved most: Capital Soccer Club Scholarship Fund, 4 North Park Drive, Montpelier, VT 05602; or Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, P.O. Box 139, Killington, VT 05751. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
