Darren James Gonzales, 23, passed away Friday, April 27, 2012 at his home in Tustin, California. Darren was born May 6th, 1988 in Orange, California, the son of Carolyn Kanafani and Lyle Gonzales. He attended Tustin schools growing up, exceling academically and athletically, playing baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and football. He moved to Tennessee with his family and there attended and graduated from Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee in 2006.
Darren loved music and was a gifted lyricist. He found his voice writing lyrics and poetry, always surprising those around him with his talent for telling a great story. Darren was an avid skateboarder, and enjoyed snowboarding and skydiving. He loved the outdoors and was especially fond of hiking, jet skiing and biking. He was recently training to participate in a triathlon. He embraced the world around him and all it had to offer. He also had a deep understanding of the importance of family and friends and loved and cared about each of them with his whole heart. His love of his family ran so deep that he tattooed the names of his mom and two sisters on his arm so that they would “always be close to him.” He chose to spell their names in Arabic to honor his extended family.
His sense of humor made him the class clown at an early age and the life of the party in later years. He lived to make people smile.
Darren is survived by his parents, Carolyn and Maher Kanafani and Lyle Gonzales, sisters Deslee Lloyd and Devin Kanafani, brother-in-law Chad Lloyd, and nephew Nolan Lloyd. He is also survived by maternal grandparents Richard and Ione Brusig, paternal grandfather Vince Gonzales, paternal step-grandfather Steve Medina and countless aunts, uncles and cousins. His memorial service was held Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 13922 Prospect Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705. A celebration reception was held immediately following at Tustin Banquet Center, 721 W. 1st Street, Tustin, CA 92780.