Jason Sagnella's Family, Coping With His Sudden Death, Needs Help

EAST HAVEN, CT — Erica Sagnella said her big brother Jason was the best brother a little sister could ask for. And he was the best son, uncle, and friend to many.

"Everyone that knew him, loved him," she said. Erica, her family and Jason's many friends are grieving his sudden and unexpected death Monday.

Jason Sagnella, 43, was born in New Haven, but in his East Haven neighborhood, everyone knew him. "He was the community babysitter," Erica said. He "watched all of his nieces and his friends' kids any time he was needed." He was "Uncle Jay to all the kids in the neighborhood. This is a huge loss to all that knew him."

A "class clown," he was always cracking jokes and loved to make people laugh. She said he lit up every room he entered, and was the person that others went to for advice and comfort, though he'd "call you an idiot, he'd help you through whatever problem you were dealing with."

He loved his family and was a "mama's boy ...big time."

Erica said that her brother "suffered a brain aneurysm back in 2012, and we were told he only had a 10 percent chance of survival, but he pulled through. Never fully recovered, but still lived his life to the fullest."

Erica created a GoFundMe to help her family pay for his funeral.

"During this difficult time and due to the unexpected nature of Jason's passing, we are asking for donations to offset the funeral expenses that will be incurred," Erica wrote on the GoFundMe appeal. "With my brother being so young, we never even planned for something like this. Please open your hearts at this time and donate what you can. Let's send my Jason home the way he deserves."

Visit the GoFundMe page here.

Read Jason Sagnella's obituary here.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.