Victoria Elizabeth Augustine-Gibson

Victoria Elizabeth Augustine-Gibson, 25, of Chicora passed away Monday.

Victoria was born Nov. 11, 1990, in Butler, a daughter of Keith and Mary Augustine.

Victoria was an honor roll student when she graduated in 2009 from Karns City High School. She participated in Girl Scouts, the basketball team, Pom-Poms and numerous other activities. She also continued her education through Gannon University.

Victoria worked most recently as a baby sitter, a cook and a house cleaner.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandparents, Aunt Lisa, Travis and her siblings. Her greatest joy in life was helping raise her little brothers.

She will always be remembered for her fearless personality and her contagious smile. Her smile could light up a room. Unfortunately, this smile hid a life of pain that many of us will never understand. Victoria turned away from family to find her comfort in heroin. While many of us will never be able to comprehend why someone would make this choice, we also have not walked one day in her shoes.

She had the biggest heart and, without the drug, she would've been successful. She had the type of personality that many of us could only dream of having. She had high hopes and big dreams when she was little. She never knew that one syringe would destroy every dream that she had ever held.

Victoria struggled every day. She was either struggling to be clean or she was struggling to find her next hit. It is a tragedy that this drug took the life of a smart and beautiful woman and totally demolished it. If one person can look at this obituary and realize that heroin is not the right choice, then we have accomplished Victoria's wish. She wanted to be rid of the addiction. She strived to be clean. But heroin won.

Victoria is survived by her parents, Mary Young of Chicora and Keith (Teresa) Augustine of Butler; her stepfather, Tom Rafferty of Pennsylvania; her brothers, Abraham and Saul Rafferty of Chicora; her sisters, Kristen-Lynne and Juilianna Augustine of Butler; her maternal grandparents, Lillian (Cecil) Heasley of Butler and Paul Young Sr. of Pittsburgh; her paternal grandparent, Flora Augustine of Butler; her great-uncles, Howard (Delores) Bain and Bill Bain, both of Tucson, Ariz.; her great-aunts, Vi Maughan of Virginia and Helen (David) Bellows of La Luz, New Mexico; her uncles, Paul (Patty) Young of Texas, John (Gloria) Young of Pittsburgh and Don (Ginny) Augustine, Heinz (Ruthann) Augustine, Mark (Jody) Augustine, Dave (Sue) and Rick (Cathy), all of Pennsylvania; her aunt, Lisa Heasley of Saxonburg; a very special cousin, Travis (Kayla) Young of Texas; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and other special friends.

Victoria was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Donald S. Augustine.

AUGUSTINE-GIBSON — There will be no viewing for Victoria Elizabeth Augustine-Gibson, who died Monday, June 6, 2016. Memorial services will be conducted later.