Kaitlyn Diane Aurielle Handrahan Knapp, age 21, lost her fight against addiction on December 29, 2016. She fought hard and battled her demons of this heroin epidemic playing Russian roulette on the heroin battlefield.  Once on heroin’s battlefield, it is so hard to find your way out.  She was so much more than a warrior though.  She was a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece, a sister, a cousin, a girlfriend, a friend.  As beautiful as she was on the outside, she was even more beautiful on the inside.  Kaitlyn spent summers camping with her grandparents and friends.  She loved our family’s traditions including smoking cigars the last day of every family cruise with her Opa, mom, Aunt Erica and Uncle Richie.  She traveled as far east as Turkey and as far west as Alaska. Kaitlyn tried gymnastics, Irish step dancing, cheerleading and karate before finding her love of soccer.  She was also an amazing cook and once dreamed of becoming a chef. She loved her Opa to the moon and back.  She often fed into his sarcasm which he unknowingly well-schooled her.  Kaitlyn loved animals sneaking Baby Kitty home in her purse and attempting to keep him a secret in her room.  When she laughed, she laughed loudly and with full intent and with the biggest most beautiful smile.  See she was so much more than an addict just like every addict out there.  She deserves to be loved, known and praised for the person she was.  Society needs to move away from the “addict” stigma.  My baby is gone now.  Please hold your babies tight and teach and educate them as much as possible to arm them against the heroin and opiate battlefield.  Heroin knows no boundaries nor does it discriminate.  It is a war out there but there is safety in numbers.

With a universe’s amount of sadness, you will be sorely missed by your loving family and friends my beautiful, angelic Kaitlyn.  You will forever be my ubu boo boo. 

Kaitlyn is survived by her mother and best friend Suzanne Brett Maybury Handrahan of Danbury, CT; her father Karl Knapp and wife Diane of Montrose, PA; brother Tyler Knapp of Florida; her stepfather Emmett J. Handrahan and wife Jennifer of Danbury, CT; maternal great grandmother Lenore Shankman of Washington; maternal grandparents Peter and Anita Lucsky of Danbury, CT endearingly known as Opa and Oma by all of Kaitlyn’s friends; paternal grandparents Lee Knapp of Montrose, PA and Frank and Diane Baur of Brookneal; her Aunt Erica and Uncle Richard Brilhante of Danbury, CT and cousin Nicole Flynn of Florida; Aunt Angelina and Uncle Matthew Dawson of Springfield Center, NY; Aunt Deidra Auslander Klidonas of Holiday, FL; Tracey Cunningham of Brookneal, VA; and her boyfriend Daniel Meyer of Southington, CT as well as numerous other family members and beloved friends.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The HERO Project, c/o Peter Herger, Esq., 5 Lake Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810.  https://www.facebook.com/theheroprojectbethel/

A memorial service will be held at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division St., Danbury, Thursday evening at 7:00. The family will receive friends, preceding the service at the funeral home from 5:00 to 7:00. 

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