PV2 Bryan Lafayette

Hometown: Kinnelon, New Jersey, U.S.
Died: April 25, 2017
Unit: Assigned at Fort Drum, Watertown, NY.

Bryan Lafayette, of Kinnelon, passed away on April 25, 2017.
Bryan was born and raised in Kinnelon, New Jersey. He attended Kinnelon public schools through ninth grade and graduated from Morris Knolls High School, Rockaway, NJ in 2015. Bryan joined the United States Army in August of 2016. He completed Basic Training and Diesel Mechanic school at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. In April, Bryan was assigned for active duty at Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. Bryan believed in taking one day at a time and doing his best. These values helped him successfully complete Basic Training.
Cars were Bryan's passion. He loved to work on them, drive them and dream about them. Many of Bryan's friendships involved cars. Bryan also loved the outdoors. He loved to fish, hunt, boat, skateboard and snowboard.
Bryan loved and cherished his family and friends and was aware that this physical life doesn't last forever. Less than a month before he died, Bryan posted the following anonymous quote on Facebook: "To all my family and friends. I just wanted to tell you I love you because yesterday is gone, today is almost over and tomorrow isn't promised."
Bryan is survived by his mother Marcia Stenger Lafayette of Kinnelon, NJ. His father, John "Jack" Lafayette of Pine Brook, New Jersey. His loving brother Kyle of West Milford, New Jersey. His maternal grandmother, Alice Stenger of Monroe, CT. Many loving aunts and uncles; Janice Stenger of Boston, MA: Barbara and John Schmitt of The Plains, VA; Carl & Pam Stenger, Beacon Falls, CT; Robert Stenger & Debra Hall of Fairfield, CT, Tom and Marg Stenger, Fallston, MD; Rodger and Aeva Stenger of Belair MD; Nancy Lafayette Gaviria of Yardley, PA; Patricia Lafayette Hamm of Lawrenceville, NJ. Many loving cousins....Kristin and Ryan Parker and their two children...Gracie & Keane of Nepal, Ken & Jamy Stenger and their two children Cole and Ben of Shelton, CT, Sarah and Sean Eastridge of Atlanta, GA, Michael Stenger, Laura and Peter Soprano; Matthew Stenger, Olivia Stenger, Luke Stenger, Dylan and Gaby Gaviria of Yardley PA, Isabella Hamm of Philadelphia, PA, Nicole Lafayette Nero and her husband Erik of Saratoga Springs, NY and their three children Kaitie, Emma and Liam.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 pm Friday, May 5 at Smoke Rise Community Church, Kinnelon. A funeral service will be held 11 am Saturday at the church, with an hour of visitation to be held prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery, Butler.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bryan's memory to the Kinnelon Fire Department, 103 Kiel Ave., Kinnelon, NJ 07405 would be greatly appreciated by his family.