Goodbye To Jonelle, Our Maui Photographer, Thank You For The Memories And RIP

Wow. I was just in Maui and was debating about using her.

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

You’re very kind. This is especially needed in the orthodox community where we are held to certain standards and expectations and where mental illness is still unfortunately stigmatized. I wish all the best

So sad reading this story. Beautiful pics of a beautiful family…she was talented. RIP.

These are really amazing photos.
So much talent.

The fact that you had her smiling all these years is extra special.

Breaks my heart to think of a young girl who is left without her mother

Sorry to hear, but wow really incredible pictures.
Your putting SomethingFishy at task. 😉

Who will you use next time,Dan?

Deeply saddened to hear this news :(. Her daughter is way too young to have to have lost her mother at that age. A photographer can be replaced (even if by one not as good), but a mother is irreplaceable.

So sad.

This is so sad. Thanks for sharing

So saddened to hear this. Went through the experience of losing someone very close to my family the same way. No words..
Such a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to anyone touched by this.
Especially her child. ❤️

So sad to hear that such amazing talent was lost due to depression ?? She made everyone happy just seeing her beautiful work and now we’re baffled as to why??

I don’t know her but sounds heart wrenching, thank you Dan for not only giving us awesome deals but for showing us into your life as well. A special Thanks for the go fund me disclaimer. I hope her daughter finds the strength to recover.

It was worth the entire Dansdeals if this post helps one individual struggling. Thank you for posting!

You brought her business from your post when she was alive, and (unfortunately) you bring now people to donate on the gofundme page for her daughter. Since you posted this jewish names are coming up on the page as they donated.
קידוש השם

Thank You Dan for posting! Truly heartbreaking. I am a psychologist in Los Angeles working in the area of risk management and unfortunately see this all too often both in the Jewish community and out. There are many helpful resources out there to help someone in time of need. One really great one is the Suicide hotline tel: 1-800-273-8255. It is available 24/7.

What a beautiful Kiddush Hashem…. What a horrible loss .

It is so sad that depression is still so misunderstood. While we still do not know exactly what causes depression, it is a disease like other illnesses. There are many factors that can be involved such as biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones, and inherited traits. Thank you for your beautiful post. If it encourages even one person to get help, you have made a difference.

I am really proud to call you family. You have a very special heart, like the family you come from. Mimi too!! I’m so sorry for your loss and hope the pictures bring you joy and good memories of your times with Jonelle. Thank you for speaking out about depression. More people in the Orthodox community need to use their influence and audience to get the message out there about it! From our schools to our Shidduch system, mental illness stigma is so damaging!

Great post! Life is actually the best “deal”!!

So how do we help someone depressed ? They don’t want help and reject every suggestion – appreciate good suggestions

Heres the Gofundme description:

On July 26, 2019, Jonelle Littleton became one of the best angels ever. Leaving behind one the most amazing little girl in the world, Ruby Rain Littleton-Fleck. No doubt she will be forever present and remembered for all of her best qualities. She had an amazing sense of humor, a passion for life, keeping it real and was never afraid to call people out. She had a way of making people laugh as it was her job as a very talented photographer here on Maui.

Jonelle battled with depression and anxiety, which sadly, took her life. We do not want this to define her or her death. We will always remember her as the beautiful, funny, caring and amazing mom she was. There are so many times she was so generous to homeless people and going out of her way to do nice things to people in need. She was the Girl Scout troop leader for Ruby’s troop and she instilled some really great traits in Ruby about caring and giving that have already shown. Ruby is passionate about raising money for the Maui Humane Society, as she often hosts fruit and lemonade stands using the proceeds to buys things to donate to the shelter. You can often find her putting together care packages for the homeless and will have someone drive her around until she spots someone to give it to.

The funds we are raising are going to help fund mortuary costs and a celebration of life here on Maui to honor Jonelle. It is important to us to keep Jonelle’s family in Ruby’s life and this will also help with travel costs to get Ruby to visit her moms family in Texas and New York throughout her life. This will also help Jonelle’s mom travel to Maui to visit Ruby.

Jonelle was an absolutely amazing mom, and after giving birth to Ruby she worked two jobs a lot of the time to make sure Ruby had the best life possible. One of Jonelle’s biggest dreams, concerns, and motivation for working so hard was to leave Ruby with something that could help get her on her feet and leave something in her legacy, so the remaining funds will be placed in a trust for Ruby when she becomes a mature adult. She always expressed how important this was for her, so this will ensure that she has something to not only remember how much her mom was loved but how much her mom loved her as her. We are just so saddened it has to come as the price of her mom’s life.

We deeply appreciate you anything you can fund towards this very important dream and cause. Jonelle would be so delighted in seeing all the love put into this. It will help her in her journey to be in a much happier place. She will be forever in our hearts.

We love you Jonelle. So, so much.

To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/JonelleandRuby/donate

Dan, Maybe your greatest post of all time. is there a better deal in life than life itself? May Jonelle’s memory be a blessing. May the merit of the dozens of people who read this and get help be paid to he in the next world.

Jonelle took amazing photos of me and my husband and was so awesome to work with last year at a sunset photo shoot. No doubt this one hour on the beach taking pictures with her was one of the highlights of our Maui vacation (and my husband hates taking pictures so that’s saying something!).
I was sadden to hear the news when I went on to Instagram after Shabbos and saw the GoFund me post. Now when I walk through my house and see those stunning pictures on my wall I think about how much fun that hour really was and I wish I knew so I could have possibly done even one small thing to help her. She was such a sweet woman and will surely be missed by all who knew her.

dan you are a light unto the nations !

This link contains some resources (Mostly NY based). Most importantly: Say Something! Reach Out! You ARE NOT ALONE. This has affected too many people in our own communities. Please end the stigma.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/depression-and-suicide-resources/

Wow, this is super sad!! Jonelle was a young, beautiful, kind, dedicated and talented mom, what a tragedy! 🙁
She will be missed by her loved ones and many more.
(I just donated to help her young daughter)
RIP

Thank you for the link and giving readers the opportunity to help out. I don’t know this person, but being a mother to two small children, it just breaks my heart.

I am suffering from anxiety and depression. Anyone know an english speaking support group i can join. I just started with a therapist but would love to hear from ppl who suffered and survived.

@dan Beautifully written! My suggestion based on reading some of the comments, maybe compile list of ppl/org/groups that help in this field and post it under the article above or possibly a new post?
You have the opportunity now to help many people like her, who are even voicing their pain here, before it’s too late!

Donated!
If anyone is reading this and going through a hard time please remember and focus on the people who love you!
Reach out and you will find help!

What a beautiful testimony by you and your family. Your words are very kind and will help everyone get through this tragedy! You have a beautiful family, the photos capture that beautifully.! Thank you

Thank you so much for sharing! Jonelle is my niece. Your article brought tears to my eyes and pride in my heart.

I’m deeply saddened with this news, I met Jonelle 2 days before her passing. She was sweet, kind, vibrant and a beautiful young lady. She spoke highly of her daughter Ryan. She took my family of 16 photos. This session was a gift to my in laws for their 50th wedding anniversary. I can’t believe Jonelle was battling depression, I would of never know. I miss her! I hope there is a way to see these photos one day. I’m praying for her family through this difficult time. xoxo Jonelle

Beautiful story !!
So so sad to hear this news.

I just came upon this article when my brother in law sent to me. I referred them to her for this spring and I had no idea what happened. I am so sad and just donated to the go fund me. Your message above was beautiful !!

RIP jonelle.

I went to college with jonelle a TAMUCC. We had alot of classes together and when my life took a turn for the worst and all my friends were gone jonelle must of noticed I was suffering and filled the void of loneliness in my life. I always respected her for being there when most left. I reconnected with her after to learn she was doing photography in hawaii and just recently googled to learn of her passing. Much love to you and your family jonelle

Ryan A.