Brianna McNeely

Brianna Lorraine McNeely was born on March 9th, 1999 in Kissimmee, Florida. She was a creative, compassionate person who you could always count on to be there for you. She had an inviting and comforting aura to her that made you feel seen and valued, regardless of if you were family, friend, or stranger. Brianna was so bright and full of energy. She’s had many impressive accomplishments and milestones throughout her life. For five years, Brianna worked her way through the ranks in karate, earning her black belt. Competing in many tournaments, her diligence paid off and she placed and won in numerous tournaments. She continued her athletic streak and made the middle school basketball team. Brianna was always a go-getter and unafraid to try new things, so when she was inspired to join the team, she practiced until she made it happen; that’s who she was. Brianna was an artist at heart and wanted to express herself in a different way, one that felt more personal and unique to her. When she was 14 years old, she auditioned for a prestigious arts high school for Creative Writing and was among the few who were accepted. Osceola County School for the Arts (OCSA) is a place Brianna held dear in her heart. Over her four years attending, she grew as a writer and as a person. She made many friends throughout her time there, and discovered her passion for storytelling. Whether the stories made you laugh, cry, or gasp, she was able to transport you into whatever world she was building. Words were like webs to her, and she’d be able to weave them together seamlessly and make you feel every last sentence. Mr. Capley, her creative writing teacher, was an inspiring influence on Brianna. She felt that he was an amazing teacher and mentor, but beyond that, she felt that he brought out the best in her; the part of her that cared, the part of her that was ambitious. It trickled into her everyday life beyond the classroom. Mr. Capley was a shoulder she could always lean on for support. Beyond Brianna’s achievements and milestones, she had many passions in her life. One of those was her love for animals, which she was very caring and nurturing towards. She appreciated their innocence and would try to rescue every animal she could. One rescue that was close to her heart was the family dog, Bandit. She would play with him, take him for walks, or just have him hanging out with her in her room. Bandit was a source of joy for her. Anyone that knew her though, knew she specifically adored and loved ducks. Not only did she have a plethora of knowledge about them, but she could be at peace just sitting in a park watching them fly, swim, or waddle on by. In her eyes, there were no ugly ducklings. Many of her possessions were stuffed animal ducks or had a duck somewhere upon them, from socks to pajamas and everything in-between. Friends and family would lovingly tease her about this obsession, asking, “Why ducks? Why do you love them so much?” She would leave those who asked speechless, saying, “They’re the best animals in the world.” Brianna had a huge appreciation for movies and film. She enjoyed everything from drama, action, and comedies to documentaries and musicals. She loved all of the 80’s romantic comedies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and all of the ones with John Cusack, her favorite actor. She was also a big fan of the James Bond films with Roger Moore. Brianna & her sister Kayla would often stand back to back and get into the James Bond pose. But her all-time favorite movie was Grease. She owned the movie & soundtrack on multiple formats, and memorabilia as well. She knew the lyrics to every song and all of the dance moves. Everyone watched Grease with her at least once. Brianna’s biggest passion in life was her love for music. Brianna had a strong appreciation for every single aspect of a song: lyrics, flow, melody, you name it. She was able to hear and feel things in songs most people couldn’t, and her music knowledge was vast and limitless. Whether it be the heartfelt lyrics of Neil Young, Bob Dylan & Nick Cave, to rock spanning from AC/DC, Pink Floyd & The Beatles, to the experimental sounds of Helios Creed & Sonic Youth, or even the uplifting yet mellow reggae of Bob Marley, she had a great understanding of every musical genre. Some of her favorite songs: -“Love Song” by AC/DC, her favorite song by her all-time favorite band -“Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac, which inspired her name -“Meet You In The Subway” by Chrome, which they dedicated to her during a concert -“All For You” by Motörhead, which she loved to vigorously sing aloud on car rides -“One On One” by Cheap Trick, a song she made her own choreography to Some songs that were close to her heart: -“Like A Hurricane” by Neil Young -“Most Of The Time” by Bob Dylan -“Watching The Wheels” by John Lennon -“Wedding Hotel” by Rowland S. Howard & Nikki Sudden -“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd, which reminded her of her “Papa” McNeely Brianna was surrounded by family who nurtured her ambitions and talent. With her Dad, Brian, Brianna attended many concerts before she was in high school. He inspired her love for music & artistic expression, and it became a way to make sense of the world around her. Her paternal grandmother, Karen “Nana” McNeely, honed her love for crafting. Brianna spent a great deal of her time making cards and gifts for people, no matter what the occasion was. Brianna was a giving soul and she never gave anything because she felt like she had to-she gave everything from her heart because she wanted others to feel loved. Her paternal grandfather, David “Papa” McNeely, was a huge part of Brianna’s life when he was alive. He was one of her biggest supporters in her athletic endeavors and creative pursuits. He had a profound influence on her life and they loved each other with all their hearts. Brianna’s greatest love and joy in this life was her beautiful daughter, Juliana. Along with her partner, Jonathan, it was quite simply the greatest achievement of both of their lives. They loved spending time with Juliana by taking her to the park, the pool, playing with toys or simply cuddling up together. Brianna also adored Jonathan’s parents, Dave & Kelly Youmans, who welcomed her with open arms and treated her as family. She always appreciated everything they did for Juliana and for all of their support. Juliana’s health & happiness was Brianna’s top priority and she always said, “My daughter is my world!” Brianna’s love for Juliana will transcend time & space itself. Brianna had many friends from all walks of life. She was non-judgmental and she only looked for the kindness in others. Over the years, she developed many wonderful relationships and loved them all for their unique & individual personalities. No matter where life took her, she cherished the friendships she’d made throughout the years. Brianna passing away at 24 years old is nothing short of a tragedy. Brianna was one of the kindest souls that loved and cherished everyone around her. She had a rare, beautiful gift to feel emotions deeply and intensely. Like her family, she had a worldview that was open-minded and filled with empathy and compassion for others. The world needs more people like her, those who lend support to those around them with graciousness and kindness. Brianna will be loved, missed, and remembered fondly. We will always wish you were here & forever you will remain in our hearts. May you rest in peace. She is survived by her daughter Juliana Hernandez, Juliana’s father Jonathan Hernandez, In-laws Dave & Kelly Youmans, Brother-in-law Ryan Youmans & niece Rhi Youmans. She is survived by her mother Joy McNeely, grandmother Norma Schultz, aunt Sherri Bolton, sibling Cory Bilodeau and his wife Katie Bilodeau and sibling Jae Imperial. She is survived by her father Brian McNeely, grandmother Karen McNeely, sibling Forrest McNeely and his wife Minnie McNeely, sibling Kayla Simpson and her fiancee Kyle Koehler & nieces November Rose Simpson and soon-to-be Olivia and sibling Jay Falagan. Please join us for Brianna’s Celebration of Life on August 5, 2023 at: Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N. Forest Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 Brianna’s Celebration of Life will begin at 2:00 PM and last into the early evening. All are welcome!!! This will be a true celebration for Brianna and she will be remembered through photos, videos, and memorabilia spanning her life. If you are planning to attend, it would be greatly appreciated if you could let us know, so we can ensure room for all. You can email at briandmcneely@gmail.com or send a message on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/briand.mcneely and please let us know how many are in your group. Thank you.

Brianna McNeely

March 9, 1999 - April 27, 2023