Tyler James Pesce

Tyler James Pesce passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, near Clark Fork, Idaho.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Coffelt's Funeral Chapel. A catered reception will follow at the Beyond Hope Restaurant in Sam Owens Park on the Hope Peninsula.

Tyler was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on May 17, 1990, and for 18 years, he endeared himself to everyone who knew him.

Family and friends meant everything to Tyler. His friends at Clark Fork High School were the same young people who attended Hope Elementary School with him, and these lifelong friendships were the cornerstone of his happiness and filled a large portion of his heart.

Family was important to him, and he was as proud of being Italian as he was of being Irish.

He loved Ireland's emerald green, his favorite coffee flavoring was Irish cream, and he wanted to visit both his ancestral homelands someday.

Again and again, everyone who knew Tyler said they loved how he made them smile, laugh, and made bad days better just by being there.

If it's true, and we think it is, that a successful life is measured in how much you love and are loved, Tyler was rich. And he enriched other's lives.

He was truly, as many people described him, a shining star.

They said he was "amazing, genuine, glowing, awesome, humorous, wonderful and a great guy." We agree.

He was an A student whenever he wanted to be, he loved music and made CD mixes for his dad who will play them for the rest of his life.

He wrote poems and tributes for family birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, and wrote brilliant action fiction and top-notch articles for his school paper.

Like the song, "I Hope You Dance," Tyler did. He entered wholeheartedly into the school sports of football and basketball, playing his heart out and cheering himself hoarse whenever he wasn't on the court or the field. At school events, he danced every dance.

At the Floating Restaurant company party, where he worked as a prep cook, things were quiet until Tyler arrived and gathered every girl in sight onto the dance floor and danced with all of them at once.

He participated enthusiastically in Acca Decca competitions, school social activities and daily high school life. He enjoyed life, with a rare gift for living every moment to the fullest.

As a friend, son, brother and uncle, he was loving, loyal and loved.

It's an understatement to say the world has lost a light and heaven has gained one. May the Lord enjoy him - we did.

Tyler is survived by his father and stepmother, Jimmy J. and Teresa Pesce of Kootenai, Idaho; his mother, Shirley Pesce of Sandpoint, Idaho; two brothers, Jimmy of Hope  and Brent of Sandpoint; his sister, Michelle Aloisi of Hope; his grandmother, Lucille Fuhrman of Cascade, Calif.; and one niece and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his two grandfathers and grandmother.

Family and friends are invited to sign Tyler's online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.