Prescott Mayor’s Daughter Brooklyn Mengarelli Cherished Her Faith, Family

by Sheila Mengarelli, Realtor, Kathleen Yamauchi Group Real Estate
Brooklyn Ashley Mengarelli, 21, of Prescott, Arizona, was called home to Jesus on Friday, April 10, 2020. Daughter of Greg and Sheila Mengarelli, Brooklyn was born and raised here in Prescott. She grew up with three older brothers Cameron, Brady, Austin, and younger sister Sheridan.
Brooklyn deeply cherished her family. She was always so grateful to have her older brothers there to protect her and show her love, and her younger sister to share her laughs and tears with. Brooklyn was kind and compassionate; people were drawn to her vibrancy and beauty that shone from the inside out. She was an understanding person with a heartwarming smile and the ability to light up any room. Brooklyn’s heart for loving people and joy for life were contagious. 
Brooklyn attended Prescott High School, where she graduated with honors in 2017. During her baccalaureate ceremony, she addressed her peers, encouraging her fellow Christian graduates to put God first now and said, “If you keep pushing off your faith until tomorrow, tomorrow will never come.” Her life was the example. Throughout high school, you could find Brooklyn on any given Tuesday night with her Prescott Christian Church youth group. She attended every mission trip she could, from Mexico to India, and she even organized a student-led mission trip to Mexicali, Mexico. Later, she would carry on her passion for ministry in college by leading Bible studies at the University of Arizona.
Brooklyn embraced college life at the U of A, pursuing a math education degree with a sign language minor. She was a beloved member of the Chi Omega Sorority, where she made so many friends and sweet memories. She was courageous in sharing her faith with friends, and exemplifying that through example. Everything she did in college glorified God, even though she might have been the only one.
She was not a follower of society, she was a follower of God, and she made sure everyone around her knew it. She was the mom of every friend and sorority sister, making sure they were staying healthy and that they made it home safely. 
Purity was also very important to Brooklyn. She was saving her first kiss for her wedding day. She loved her large family and even larger extended family. Brooklyn thrived on long hot days in her service at Prescott’s United Christian Youth Camp, where her passion for children was highlighted. She served at the camp from ages 15 to 18 and loved being a part of the experience of each kid attending summer camp and seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ come alive in their lives! She also spent the last two summers with her Uncle Brian, Aunt Ashley and cousins in Utah at Big Canyon Ranch, where she worked as summer staff and also as assistant program director.
Brooklyn loved to dance! She started dancing at age 3, and it turned into a lifelong passion. She loved the memories she shared with her dance family, and then in high school, she danced on the pom team at PHS. But her favorite time to dance was at big Italian Mengarelli weddings — celebrating life and love. Brooklyn danced like nobody was watching and lived life to the fullest! 
Family meant so much to Brooklyn. At age 10 she and her biological siblings welcomed new family members when her parents began fostering and adopting children. She knew the value of family and welcomed her four youngest adopted siblings as full-fledged family. She was passionate about foster care and adoption and had a heart for orphans. Not only did she grow up in a large family, she had a large extended family as well; 12 cousins (plus spouses)! It made for wildly competitive game nights. 
She also loved to bake with her grandmothers and sisters during the holidays. During football season, you could find her glued to the game cheering for/with her brothers. She was an old soul. Her mama was her best friend, her dad and brothers were her heroes, and she was deemed the best aunt ever to her little nephew Dawson. Brooklyn deeply cherished family time together. 
Above all, Brooklyn loved Jesus with all her heart, soul and mind. She was wise beyond her years and made God a priority in her life. Her love for her savior was sweet and beautiful.
As young and full of life Brooklyn was, she suffered with epilepsy her entire life, which was exhibited by absence seizures. Despite her struggles with epilepsy, she was positive, an overcomer, and always spread joy to others. She passed away in a hot tub due to an epileptic seizure and was immediately swept into the arms of her sweet Jesus. Her family and friends prayed for healing, and though she might not have been healed on earth, on Good Friday, God healed her perfectly and completely by His side in heaven.
Brooklyn will be deeply missed and forever loved by all who knew her. She was honored in a Celebration of Life on June 13th when friends, family and the community gathered together in her memory.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

— Jeremiah 29:11-13