'She Made a Lot of Bad Decisions': Family's Heartbreaking Obituary for NH Woman Who Died of Heroin Overdose

The family of a New Hampshire woman who died last week of a heroin overdose wrote an honest, heartbreaking obituary pleading with local families to guide loved ones struggling with addiction to treatment before it’s too late.

Molly Alice Parks died April 16 in Manchester. She was 24.

Parks struggled with a heroin addiction for five years, her family said in her obituary.

Aside from that, she enjoyed theater, fashion, and reading the Harry Potter books, her family said. She attended a year at Southern Maine Community College and recently worked as a driver for Portland Pie Co.

“Along Molly’s journey through life, she made a lot of bad decisions including experimenting with drugs,” her family wrote. “She fought her addiction to heroin for at least five years and had experienced a near fatal overdose before. Molly’s family truly loved her and tried to be as supportive as possible as she struggled with the heroin epidemic that has been so destructive.

“If you have any loved one’s who are fighting addiction, Molly’s family asks that you do everything possible to be supportive, and guide them to rehabilitation before it is too late.”

Earlier this year, Gov. Maggie Hassan declared heroin addiction “one of the most pressing public health and safety challenges facing our state.” She has encouraged emergency responders to carry Narcan, which can revive overdose victims.

In 2013—the last year in which data is available—emergency room visits for heroin users in New Hampshire more than doubled from the year before.

This is Molly Parks’ obituary:

Molly Alice Parks, age 24, who most currently resided in Manchester, NH, passed away in Manchester on April 16, 2015 as the result of a heroin overdose.

She was born in York, Maine on March 13, 1991, a daughter of Tom and Patti (Michaud) Parks.

Molly graduated from Old Orchard Beach High School in 2009 and attended one year at SMCC until her addiction took over. Most recently, she was employed as a delivery driver for Portland Pie Co. in Manchester, NH. She enjoyed theater, fashion, reading – especially Harry Potter, and will always be remembered for fearless personality and her trademark red lipstick. Along Molly’s journey through life, she made a lot of bad decisions including experimenting with drugs. She fought her addiction to heroin for at least five years and had experienced a near fatal overdose before. Molly’s family truly loved her and tried to be as supportive as possible as she struggled with the heroin epidemic that has been so destructive to individuals and families in her age bracket.

She is survived by her parents- Tom Parks and his wife Pat Noble of Saco and Patti Michaud Parks of Berlin, NH; sister- Kasey Parks of OOB; step siblings- Dustin and Delayna Denicourt of Biddeford; maternal grandparents- Rita and Raymond Michaud of Berlin, NH; paternal grandmother- Ruth Parks of OOB; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and a niece.

If you have any loved one’s who are fighting addiction, Molly’s family asks that you do everything possible to be supportive, and guide them to rehabilitation before it is too late.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 22, from 4-8 PM at the Old Orchard Beach Funeral Home, 36 Portland Ave., Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064.