Dayana Rosemarie Roehl

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Dayana Rosemarie Roehl, 36, of Hartford passed away on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at home. She was known as “Brazil” to her friends, was an ebullient and effusive bundle of energy who treasured much about her life, including her Brazilian heritage, her family and friends, and helping others to smile and laugh. But beyond anything else she treasured her daughter Adriana, who was her pride and joy and the light of her life. She would often tell her own parents, and anyone else who would listen, how very proud she was of her little girl. Dayana Roehl was born in Brazil on February 8, 1986. When she was two her birth-family made the difficult decision to give her up for adoption and in 1991, after their initial application and long months of waiting, Nancy and Tom Roehl traveled there to adopt Dayana, bringing her home in March of that year to begin a new life with them and their three boys in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Dayana was a quick study. Shy and cautious at first, she soon learned English, adapting to her new life and becoming a beloved part of her new immediate and extended family. Her ready smile, laughter, and exuberance charmed everyone, including her three older brothers, who helped her build her self-confidence. They bonded while riding bikes together, watching Disney movies, and swimming in the nearby lake during hot summers, and looked forward to family vacations where they could spend a week together at a lake, swimming, boating, and fishing. But Dayana enjoyed quiet time too, with reading, and art projects, helping her mom bake cookies, and spending time with her grandparents who lived nearby. She loved swimming in their pool in the summers, and was often joined by her cousins. She also relished trips to visit relatives in Springfield and Boston, enjoying the excitement and diversity of the city. (That love of the city continued as she later made numerous visits as an adult to New York City with friends.) As a youngster, Dayana was athletic, playing soccer in elementary school, excelling at gymnastics, and taking up karate as a pre-teen. As a teenager Dayana enjoyed studying Art and English while attending Northwest Regional High School in Winsted, Connecticut. Dayana loved being with people and after high school moved to Bristol and then to Hartford, seeking diversity. Nicknamed “Brazil,” she found expression in fashion and beauty, hair, clothing, nails, and being up-to-date with the latest trends. She also enjoyed the companionship of good meals with others, and tried her hand at cooking for herself and her friends. Perhaps the high point of Dayana’s life was the birth of her daughter, Adriana, whom she had with Shyquan Jeridore. Dayana loved Adriana more than anything else. As Adriana grew older, they enjoyed coloring together, getting their nails done, and figuring out new hair styles. Dayana wanted to make sure Adriana felt secure in her mother’s love. Together with Adriana’s father Shyquan, they sought to provide a loving and supportive environment where she could grow and flourish. Although Dayana faced many challenges in her life and struggled to find a sense of stability and peace, she had a good, generous, and open heart, and chose to trust others; and she always had a ready smile if she ever thought someone else needed cheer. As we mourn Dayana, we will miss that sense of caring and love, but can also remember it as her lasting gift to us all. Dayana is survived by her beloved daughter, Adriana Jeridore, and by her good friend, Shyquan Jeridore, of Hartford. She is also survived by her parents, Nancy and Thomas Roehl, of Plymouth; by her brothers, Gregory and his wife Elizabeth, of Bethlehem, Drew and his wife Georgie, of Goshen, and Jacob and his wife Jessica, of Simsbury; her uncle Richard Wirth and his wife Margaret Leahy Wirth, of Boston, her aunt Christine Wirth, of Boston, and her aunt Ellen Klimas and her husband Joe, of Middletown; as well as by many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol has the honor of serving Dayana’s family. All services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holt, International, at https://www.holtinternational.org/, or to Hands On Hartford, at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/hoh2017donate. To leave an online go to Dayana’s memorial page at www.FunkFuneralHome.com

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