Podbean logo
  • Discover
  • Podcast Features
    • Podcast Hosting

      Start your podcast with all the features you need.

    • Podbean AI Podbean AI

      AI-Enhanced Audio Quality and Content Generation.

    • Blog to Podcast

      Repurpose your blog into an engaging podcast.

    • Video to Podcast

      Convert YouTube playlists to podcasts, videos to audios.

  • Monetization
    • Ads Marketplace

      Join Ads Marketplace to earn through podcast sponsorships.

    • PodAds

      Manage your ads with dynamic ad insertion capability.

    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration

      Monetize with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions via Podbean.

    • Live Streaming

      Earn rewards and recurring income from Fan Club membership.

  • Podbean App
    • Podcast Studio

      Easy-to-use audio recorder app.

    • Podcast App

      The best podcast player & podcast app.

  • Help and Support
    • Help Center

      Get the answers and support you need.

    • Podbean Academy

      Resources and guides to launch, grow, and monetize podcast.

    • Podbean Blog

      Stay updated with the latest podcasting tips and trends.

    • What’s New

      Check out our newest and recently released features!

    • Podcasting Smarter

      Podcast interviews, best practices, and helpful tips.

  • Popular Topics
    • How to Start a Podcast

      The step-by-step guide to start your own podcast.

    • How to Start a Live Podcast

      Create the best live podcast and engage your audience.

    • How to Monetize a Podcast

      Tips on making the decision to monetize your podcast.

    • How to Promote Your Podcast

      The best ways to get more eyes and ears on your podcast.

    • Podcast Advertising 101

      Everything you need to know about podcast advertising.

    • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide

      The ultimate guide to recording a podcast on your phone.

    • How to Use Group Recording

      Steps to set up and use group recording in the Podbean app.

  • All Arts Business Comedy Education
  • Fiction Government Health & Fitness History Kids & Family
  • Leisure Music News Religion & Spirituality Science
  • Society & Culture Sports Technology True Crime TV & Film
  • Live
  • How to Start a Podcast
  • How to Start a Live Podcast
  • How to Monetize a podcast
  • How to Promote Your Podcast
  • How to Use Group Recording
  • Log in
  • Start your podcast for free
  • Podcasting
    • Podcast Features
      • Podcast Hosting

        Start your podcast with all the features you need.

      • Podbean AI Podbean AI

        AI-Enhanced Audio Quality and Content Generation.

      • Blog to Podcast

        Repurpose your blog into an engaging podcast.

      • Video to Podcast

        Convert YouTube playlists to podcasts, videos to audios.

    • Monetization
      • Ads Marketplace

        Join Ads Marketplace to earn through podcast sponsorships.

      • PodAds

        Manage your ads with dynamic ad insertion capability.

      • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration

        Monetize with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions via Podbean.

      • Live Streaming

        Earn rewards and recurring income from Fan Club membership.

    • Podbean App
      • Podcast Studio

        Easy-to-use audio recorder app.

      • Podcast App

        The best podcast player & podcast app.

  • Advertisers
  • Enterprise
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Help and Support
      • Help Center

        Get the answers and support you need.

      • Podbean Academy

        Resources and guides to launch, grow, and monetize podcast.

      • Podbean Blog

        Stay updated with the latest podcasting tips and trends.

      • What’s New

        Check out our newest and recently released features!

      • Podcasting Smarter

        Podcast interviews, best practices, and helpful tips.

    • Popular Topics
      • How to Start a Podcast

        The step-by-step guide to start your own podcast.

      • How to Start a Live Podcast

        Create the best live podcast and engage your audience.

      • How to Monetize a Podcast

        Tips on making the decision to monetize your podcast.

      • How to Promote Your Podcast

        The best ways to get more eyes and ears on your podcast.

      • Podcast Advertising 101

        Everything you need to know about podcast advertising.

      • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide

        The ultimate guide to recording a podcast on your phone.

      • How to Use Group Recording

        Steps to set up and use group recording in the Podbean app.

  • Discover
  • Log in
    Sign up free
Mr. Dana Presents

Mr. Dana Presents

Music

Coffee Talkie #0006 In Memory of Erica Mae Libonati.

Coffee Talkie #0006 In Memory of Erica Mae Libonati.

2024-01-08
Download

A Christmas message from your Coroner and a father

(Scroll to bottom for a list of local resource numbers)

I will forewarn you that this is not the Christmas message that you are expecting to receive, but one that I feel is extremely important and necessary to share this Christmas day. It is about love, but also about loss; a significant and personal loss for me and my family. The death of a sweet little girl that grew to be a beautiful young woman who quite simply made a very bad decision ten years ago and was led estray by the outside influences of this world that led to a path of destruction. A decision that took her away from those who truly loved and valued her for the person she was and could be. A period of ten years where so many efforts were made to intervene by family and friends to evert what has now become a tragedy that has been experienced by so many other families in the past. It is because of this young lady that I have been accused by some for working too hard as your Coroner and doing “too much” in the attempt to preserve life from what is learned from death investigation, but when you are called to serve people; how do you do less?

 

On the morning of Friday December 22,2023, notification was received of the death of my daughter Erica Mae Libonati who was residing in the state of California. Notification that I myself have unfortunately become accustomed to performing as a Deputy Coroner and Coroner in Mercer County for the past sixteen years. I can honestly say that even though I have performed those services with empathy and respect, I now have a greater understanding of what those families have experienced.

 

Every person and family have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by mental health problems as well as drug and alcohol addiction. No one is exempt. I believe it is not only important as your Coroner, but also vital as a parent and a person of integrity, to be honest and forthcoming and not to refrain from sharing Erica’s story so that her life and death can have meaning by providing valuable information to help serve others in a positive manner. Even though Erica had struggled significantly over the past ten years, she always had a great love in her heart to help others that were less fortunate than her. She would have wanted me to share it with you even if it will benefit only one person but I am hoping it will affect many more.

 

Erica was born March 25, 1993, in Sewickley Pennsylvania. She was a little sister to Anthony and four years later became a big sister to Jocelyn. Erica was always a little quiet, but loved to give bear hugs. She was cherished by her grandma Dolly and especially by her Uncle Ed who watched over Erica and her siblings while their mother Amy and I were at work. Erica was active in various sports and cheerleading through her school years. Ironically, Christmas was Erica’s most favorite holiday. Erica relocated to Los Angeles, California, ten years ago and four years ago, gave birth to a handsome son named Michelangelo Garcia Castandea Jr. who resides with his father, Miguel. Erica was 30 years old when she died in Los Angeles, California. Erica had struggled with mental health challenges and drug and alcohol addiction for many years. Her death is strongly suspected of being due to a drug overdose for which we are expecting and awaiting confirmation.

 

Every life is important and meant to have a profound impact on this world. This message is not intended to seek attention or condolences, but to inspire change - change within those that know a change in their life is imperative and also for those who haven’t yet acknowledged that a life change may be necessary. It is meant to be an example of courage which I believe that we all possess, no matter how deeply we need to search to find it. It is a personal testament by me and my family not to allow the stigma associated with mental health challenges and addiction to drugs and alcohol to cause any individual to withhold seeking the assistance needed to be happy and healthy without the need to escape from the challenges they may be experiencing through alcohol use, drug use and self-harm. It is to acknowledge that we all experience periods of feeling isolation, loneliness, and disconnection regardless of where we are from, how attractive we feel, or how popular we may be. It is an attempt to reinforce to everyone that mental health struggles and addiction to drugs and alcohol is real and needs to be attacked head-on. It is intended to be a call to arms for each and every person and to make it known that there are a great number of organizations within your own community comprised of highly trained experts who will walk along side of you so that you do not have to combat your problems and challenges alone. This message is a message of love.

 

I am asking each and every person who took the time to read this message to join me in celebrating Erica’s life by making the necessary changes in your own life or to share some of your valuable time, understanding, and support to each and every person that is a part of your life.

 

In closing, let us all remember the true meaning of Christmas; it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself unselfishly to provide us and to teach us the meaning of undying love while valuing each and every person regardless of the mistakes they may have made. It is a comfort to know that He was with my little girl, in her time of need, when I couldn’t be there with her.

 

I will always cherish the memories and will always consider it to have been an honor to have been Erica’s father, for what feels to be such a brief period of time. She will always be a part of who I am, and I will carry her with me for the rest of my life.

Resources

Mercer County Crisis: 724-662-2227

Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission: 724-662-2230 (www.mcbhc.org)

PA Support & Referral Helpline: 1-855-284-2494 (TTY: 724-631-5600)

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (Call or Text) 988

Veteran Crisis Line: Call 988 then Press 1 Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990

view more

More Episodes

#0037 MR. DANA Presents: Light it up Marigold.
2023-11-05 269
#0036 MR. DANA Presents: Probable Croce, Hiatt & St. James.
2023-11-01 322
GHASTLY 70’s at 7, Oct 29th, 2023 Funerals, Witches & Swamps.
2023-10-29 305
#0035 MR. DANA Presents: Ra Ra Ra, Goo Goo Ghost.
2023-10-26 289
UNATTIRED 70’s at 7, Oct 22nd, 2023 Clap For The Hot Child.
2023-10-22 285
#0034 MR. DANA Presents: Big Rail Bowling West Side.
2023-10-20 286
AU NATUREL 70’s at 7, Oct 15th, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Disco Duck Strangler.
2023-10-15 288
#0033 MR. DANA Presents: Broken Hearted Congo Devil!
2023-10-14 296
RAW 70’s at 7, Oct 8th, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Sullivan, Diamond & Mac.
2023-10-08 303
#0032 MR. DANA Presents: Vibes, Graves, Knobs and Dylan.
2023-10-02 310
UNDRESSED 70’s at 7, Oct 1st, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Music at the Movies VOL. 01
2023-10-01 313
GARMENTLESS 70’s at 7, Sept 17th, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Bicycles, Deeds and Blue Eyes.
2023-09-17 300
#0031 MR. DANA Presents: Mom’s Basement Hoochenanny.
2023-09-14 316
IN THE RAW 70’s at 7, Sept 10th, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Music of SNL 1975.
2023-09-10 312
#0030 MR. DANA Presents: Feeling Free and Loose, Like The Bras Off Baby.
2023-09-08 297
#0029 MR. DANA Presents: Guitar Stunts, Rockabilly/Hillbilly Music and Stuff.
2023-09-07 284
DIVESTED 70’s at 7, Sept 3rd, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Celebrating While Blenders are Silent.
2023-09-03 279
#0028 MR. DANA Presents: Americana Hank and Friends.
2023-08-31 285
#0027 MR. DANA Presents: Cooler Jabber Friction.
2023-08-28 289
DISROBED 70’s at 7, Aug 27th, 2023 MR. DANA PRESENTS: Mellow Seventies Vol. ONE
2023-08-27 259
  • ←
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • →
012345678910111213141516171819

Get this podcast on your
phone, FREE

Download Podbean app on App Store Download Podbean app on Google Play

Create your
podcast in
minutes

  • Full-featured podcast site
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth
  • Comprehensive podcast stats
  • Distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more
  • Make money with your podcast
Get started

It is Free

  • Podcast Services

    • Podcast Features
    • Pricing
    • Enterprise Solution
    • Private Podcast
    • The Podcast App
    • Live Stream
    • Audio Recorder
    • Remote Recording
    • Podbean AI
  •  
    • Create a Podcast
    • Video Podcast
    • Start Podcasting
    • Start Radio Talk Show
    • Education Podcast
    • Church Podcast
    • Nonprofit Podcast
    • Get Sermons Online
    • Free Audiobooks
  • MONETIZATION & MORE

    • Podcast Advertising
    • Dynamic Ads Insertion
    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
    • Switch to Podbean
    • YouTube to Podcast
    • Blog to Podcast
    • Submit Your Podcast
    • Podbean Plugins
    • Developers
  • KNOWLEDGE BASE

    • How to Start a Podcast
    • How to Start a Live Podcast
    • How to Monetize a Podcast
    • How to Promote Your Podcast
    • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide
    • How to Use Group Recording
    • Podcast Advertising 101
  • Support

    • Support Center
    • What’s New
    • Free Webinars
    • Podcast Events
    • Podbean Academy
    • Podbean Amplified Podcast
    • Badges
    • Resources
  • Podbean

    • About Us
    • Podbean Blog
    • Careers
    • Press and Media
    • Green Initiative
    • Affiliate Program
    • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Consent Preferences
  • Copyright © 2015-2025 Podbean.com