Bergen Mom Pens Heartfelt Obituary To Late Teenage Son

RIVER EDGE, NJ — Christian Arabas had plans for his future. He wanted to be successful, not for just for himself, but for his mother.

"He had high hopes and big dreams for his future in California," Arabas' mother, Meredith said of her late 14-year-old son. "He wanted to make it big to take care of me. How? He had no clue, but he would say it over and over again."

Arabas, a River Edge native, tragically died July 13 in a boating accident in Florida just days after moving there with his mother and brother, Timothy. Meredith Arabas penned a heartfelt obituary about her son.

Arabas and his brother, and mother were extremely close.

"The love shared between Christian, his brother and I went deep. There are no words to describe the bond that Christian, Tim and I have. I will cherish that forever," Meredith Arabas said. "I love you my sweet son. I will think of you every single day as you watch over us forever. We know that you are now with family and friends who have gone before you."

Arabas was "a typical teenager stretching his wings," his mother said.

"Christian loved basketball and his friends, and fishing almost as much as eating Chipotle, Dominoes, wearing hoodies or stealing Tim's clothes," Meredith Arabas said. "He hated the mundane and ordinary. He loved anything fast pace."

His friends meant the most to Arabas.

"Heaven on earth to Christian was spending time with his 'bros,' singing rap, jet-skiing, cliff jumping, snowboarding and just recently, surfing and carnival hopping," Meredith Arabas said. "His goofy faces, his smile, his laughter, and his fun personality will be greatly missed by all."

Arabas brought to the world a "contagious smile" that would light up a room. He "shared his spirit and humor with everyone he met," his mother said.

A celebration of Arabas' life is Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Congregational Church at 131 Pascack Road in Park Ridge.

"We know that you are now with family and friends who have gone before you. We also know that you will be waiting for us at heaven's gate to welcome all of us home one day, when we will see you again," Arabas' mother said. "God now has you in his arms, and we have you in our hearts forever."

Meredith Arabas asked those who knew her son, especially those who cared deeply for him, to honor him by living their lives to the fullest.

She said the loss of her son "has life an enormous emptiness and lasting impact on the hearts of those who loved him."

A GoFundMe has been established to help Arabas' mother and brother with moving back to Bergen County. More than $58,000 was donated as of Monday morning.

"Christian was a wonderful young man who always had a bright smile on his face and was kind and polite to his classmates and teachers," Carole Guerriero said on the GoFundMe page. "He will be very missed."

Related:

• River Edge Native, 14, Dies In Florida Boat Accident
• River Edge's Christian Arabas Remembered As 'Amazing,' 'Special'

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com