OKLAHOMA CITY Kristen Nicole Berlin was born July 2, 1990, to Gary and Linda Berlin. We were so blessed to have her. She was a beautiful person inside and out. She touched all of our lives in a special way. She had many talents and achievements. She attended SNU School for Children until the fifth grade, and from sixth to twelfth grade she attended the Classen School of Advanced Studies. Kristen's GPA was 4.0 from her freshman to her senior year in the International Baccalaureate Program. She was also a Valedictorian of her senior class. After graduation Kristen attended the University of Oklahoma Honors College in their Microbiology Program studying to be a physician or pharmacist. She was a recipient of the Boren Award and on the Deans Honor Roll. Kristen was a Senior at OU set to graduate in the fall of 2013. She was a talented dancer and attended Everything Goes Dance Studio for many years. She, Linda and Gary participated in many pagents most recently the Miss OU Pagent. Kristen trained her dog Pudges and he became a certified therapy dog. Kristen traveled with her father to many hospitals and cheered up many sick people. Pudges would do many tricks and the people just loved Pudges and Kristen. At 14 Kristen was the youngest participant in the Therapy Dogs International Program. She was a practicing member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters and spent time with her little sister almost every Wednesday. She also adopted a child from the World Vision Program and paid every month with her own money to support him. Kristen's personal and academic awards are too many to list. She has many friends and will be sorely missed by friends and family. Kristen was saved and baptized at Life Church OKC in 2005. She loved the Lord and we know that she is in Heaven smiling down upon us. She battled with depression and it eventually won. She took her own life on March 17, 2013. As her parents we urge you to keep the lines of communication open with your children. People choose suicide because they feel unable to cope with feelings of pain, hopelessness, helplessness, isolation and uncertainty. It is the third cause of death among young adults 18 to 24 years old. In lieu of flowers please send donations to one of the following organizations: The Oklahoma Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, World Vision, Heartline Oklahoma a Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness Organization, or give to your local Church. Please join us in a celebration of Kristen's life at Demuth Funeral Chapel on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 10 :00:AM.

Published in The Oklahoman from Mar. 19 to Mar. 20, 2013