About Amy Copeland
Amy Jeanne Copeland was born to Michael and Linda Chilton on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1970. She was the first of two children. Amy was an outgoing child who thought of everyone as her friend, even strangers. She loved life even then and enriched the lives of everyone she met. She was especially close to her entirely family.
Amy grew up in Las Vegas with her mother, Linda and the man she called her dad, Rob and her younger brother, Anthony. Following high school, Amy married and then gave birth to two wonderful children, a daughter named Marley and a son named Kristian. She loved her children with every cell in her body and made it clear she would do anything in the world for them.
In 1994, Amy divorced her first husband (who took both children in a bitter custody battle, much to Amy's horror) and discovered a man she called her soul mate and lifelong best friend. She and Charles Copeland met in Las Vegas and began dating during that September. She said even within the first week that she knew without doubt that she would spend the rest of her life with Charles by her side. The couple became engaged only weeks after their first date but, having both just emerged from divorces, they wanted to wait for marriage until both were absolutely sure it was what they truly wanted. They had both stated often that if they were to get married, it would be for eternity. But they needed to be sure of their feelings first. Nearly two years later, on September 10, 1996, Charles and Amy Copeland became one in marriage at the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, accompanied by Amy's family and her children.
In 1999, Amy and Charles relocated to suburban Boston, Massachusetts when Amy decided she had grown up enough to go out and see the world, with her husband as her tour guide. They lived in Framingham, MA for a brief period, both working jobs they hated for companies they hated even more, before becoming fed up and deciding on a move deeper into New England, to Maine, where they resided until 2003.
The couple moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey in late 2003, where, until then, Charles had been the tour guide. This time it was Amy's turn, having lived there for a brief time herself. It was there that Amy and Charles took up the nagging idea of becoming novelists.
In summer of 2009, Amy began experiencing stronger than usual heartburn and symptoms resembling those of a failing gall bladder. Chalking it up to curiosity, she quietly kept track of her symptoms and waited for the pain to go away on its own. It did, but then recurred and caused her to make a visit to the emergency room at Atlantic City Medical Center, where she was informed of having a "slightly elevated" blood sugar level but nothing more. She was given a prescription for Zantac™ and discharged. During the following six weeks, complaining of escalating symptoms but unwilling to return to the emergency room because of what they had made seem to be nothing, she began staying at home more often due to the pain.
The couple moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey in late 2003, where, until then, Charles had been the tour guide. This time it was Amy's turn, having lived there for a brief time herself. It was there that Amy and Charles took up the nagging idea of becoming novelists.
In summer of 2009, Amy began experiencing stronger than usual heartburn and symptoms resembling those of a failing gall bladder. Chalking it up to curiosity, she quietly kept track of her symptoms and waited for the pain to go away on its own. It did, but then recurred and caused her to make a visit to the emergency room at Atlantic City Medical Center, where she was informed of having a "slightly elevated" blood sugar level but nothing more. She was given a prescription for Zantac™ and discharged. During the following six weeks, complaining of escalating symptoms but unwilling to return to the emergency room because of what they had made seem to be nothing, she began staying at home more often due to the pain.
The couple moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey in late 2003, where, until then, Charles had been the tour guide. This time it was Amy's turn, having lived there for a brief time herself. It was there that Amy and Charles took up the nagging idea of becoming novelists.
In summer of 2009, Amy began experiencing stronger than usual heartburn and symptoms resembling those of a failing gall bladder. Chalking it up to curiosity, she quietly kept track of her symptoms and waited for the pain to go away on its own. It did, but then recurred and caused her to make a visit to the emergency room at Atlantic City Medical Center, where she was informed of having a "slightly elevated" blood sugar level but nothing more. She was given a prescription for Zantac™ and discharged. During the following six weeks, complaining of escalating symptoms but unwilling to return to the emergency room because of what they had made seem to be nothing, she began staying at home more often due to the pain.
The couple moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey in late 2003, where, until then, Charles had been the tour guide. This time it was Amy's turn, having lived there for a brief time herself. It was there that Amy and Charles took up the nagging idea of becoming novelists.
In summer of 2009, Amy began experiencing stronger than usual heartburn and symptoms resembling those of a failing gall bladder. Chalking it up to curiosity, she quietly kept track of her symptoms and waited for the pain to go away on its own. It did, but then recurred and caused her to make a visit to the emergency room at Atlantic City Medical Center, where she was informed of having a "slightly elevated" blood sugar level but nothing more. She was given a prescription for Zantac™ and discharged. During the following six weeks, complaining of escalating symptoms but unwilling to return to the emergency room because of what they had made seem to be nothing, she began staying at home more often due to the pain.
The couple moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey in late 2003, where, until then, Charles had been the tour guide. This time it was Amy's turn, having lived there for a brief time herself. It was there that Amy and Charles took up the nagging idea of becoming novelists.
In summer of 2009, Amy began experiencing stronger than usual heartburn and symptoms resembling those of a failing gall bladder. Chalking it up to curiosity, she quietly kept track of her symptoms and waited for the pain to go away on its own. It did, but then recurred and caused her to make a visit to the emergency room at Atlantic City Medical Center, where she was informed of having a "slightly elevated" blood sugar level but nothing more. She was given a prescription for Zantac™ and discharged. During the following six weeks, complaining of escalating symptoms but unwilling to return to the emergency room because of what they had made seem to be nothing, she began staying at home more often due to the pain.
On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the pain became so severe that she asked Charles to go to the store for over-the-counter medications which she had been told by the hospital might lessen the problems. Charles went, and when he returned, Amy lapsed into convulsions and lost consciousness. Charles called for emergency medical attention. When she woke, Amy opened her eyes, locked onto Charles' terrified gaze, said "I love you", and slipped away in his arms. She could not be revived. She was 39. As of Friday, January 22, 2010, no cause of death has been determined, though it is widely assumed that she passed away from nothing less that Sudden Cardiac Failure.
To celebrate her life, Amy is survived by her grandparents, Vince and Flora Anth, her birth father, Michael Chilton Ph.D., her mother and step father, Linda and Rob Vennette, her adoptive father, Anthony Feola, her aunt Debbie, her cousin T.J., her brother, Anthony, her children, Marley and Kristian, her adoring husband, Charles, and countless friends from around the world.
In accordance with her wishes, Amy's corneas were donated to the Gift of Life Donor Program. Her body was donated to the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine. Even after her passing, it was Amy's sincere wish to help those in need. In the spirit of giving, she will continue to provide that help now.
Amy's advice to others was always to live, love and laugh as hard and often as possible, and ensure those you love of how important they are to you. And she always followed her own advice.
Written condolences may be sent to the family through the Fractured Mirror website.
To make a safe and secure donation to the Amy Copeland Memorial Fund, simply visit the donation page by clicking HERE. Thank you!
Give life the gift of a second chance through organ and tissue donation.
Learn about organ and tissue donation and how it can help save lives by visiting the Gift of Life Donor Program.
Read Amy's blog (written by her husband, Charles Copeland) at MySpace™. In it you will discover how Amy touched the lives of everyone she came in contact with, as well as personal accounts of memories Charles shares which will show you the giving, caring, compassionate and loving nature of one of the most special human beings ever to have lived.