Friends hear mom's appeal at Boardman teen's memorial serivce

BOARDMAN

There were tears, but also plenty of laughter in the room Saturday as family and friends gathered at Boardman Park to celebrate the life of Cassandra Nicole West, 19, of Boardman who died Monday.

In front of the dozens who showed up, West’s mother, Jennifer Roupe, tearfully and fondly spoke about her daughter, who she calls her “gypsy girl.”

“For 19 years I was blessed with her,” Roupe said.

Roupe also spoke bluntly about the circumstances leading to her daughter’s death, which was a suicide that Roupe says was related to West’s battle with drug addiction. She addressed her daughter’s friends, and others in the room, who might be going through something similar.

“I’m asking for all her friends, just please stop now,” she said. “Because you see what I’m going through, and imagine your parents going through that.”

Read more in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.