Melissa Jeltsin

To her friends, Talena was not only kind, generous, and hilarious, she was also super smart. Here's Greg again.

To her friends, Talena was not only kind, generous, and hilarious, she was also super smart. Here's Greg again.

Talena was a techie and a good one. She worked on Microsoft products, fixing code errors that no one else could solve.

Talena was a techie and a good one. She worked on Microsoft products, fixing code errors that no one else could solve.

Talena was helpful to her community and also devoted to her partner, Tom. The two had been together for more than a decade. They had one of those bonds that, you know, everybody could aspire to.

Talena was helpful to her community and also devoted to her partner, Tom. The two had been together for more than a decade. They had one of those bonds that, you know, everybody could aspire to.

But Talena wasn't a homebody. She traveled a lot for work, often swinging through Indiana, where she and Tom used to live, and some of her extended family remained. And then, while she was on one of those routine trips, the unthinkable happened.

But Talena wasn't a homebody. She traveled a lot for work, often swinging through Indiana, where she and Tom used to live, and some of her extended family remained. And then, while she was on one of those routine trips, the unthinkable happened.

Tom was only 59. In his obituary, he was described as a 22-year veteran of the Army and an avid gun enthusiast. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, well-wishers could donate to his favorite charity for love of dogs.

Tom was only 59. In his obituary, he was described as a 22-year veteran of the Army and an avid gun enthusiast. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, well-wishers could donate to his favorite charity for love of dogs.

Tom's death unmoored Talena, and for a long while afterwards, she battled with a stubborn depression.

Tom's death unmoored Talena, and for a long while afterwards, she battled with a stubborn depression.

This is Kim, a hairdresser in Wagner who cut Talena's hair. She remembered Talena's first appointment after Tom passed.

This is Kim, a hairdresser in Wagner who cut Talena's hair. She remembered Talena's first appointment after Tom passed.

Talena didn't like living alone in the house she'd shared with Tom. Nicole, her friend in Tennessee, remembered how Talena navigated her new role as a relatively young widow.

Talena didn't like living alone in the house she'd shared with Tom. Nicole, her friend in Tennessee, remembered how Talena navigated her new role as a relatively young widow.

It was in 2019 that Talena invited Corey Bomily, a 58-year-old woman she knew through friends, to move in with her. Corey was also in a transitional period, in the middle of a divorce. I couldn't get Corey to speak to me, but from what I've learned, the two had a lot in common. They were both adjusting to life without a partner.

It was in 2019 that Talena invited Corey Bomily, a 58-year-old woman she knew through friends, to move in with her. Corey was also in a transitional period, in the middle of a divorce. I couldn't get Corey to speak to me, but from what I've learned, the two had a lot in common. They were both adjusting to life without a partner.

They were both enthusiastic pet owners, sharing a singular love for animals. And they both dabbled in pagan culture and attended local Renaissance fairs for fun.

They were both enthusiastic pet owners, sharing a singular love for animals. And they both dabbled in pagan culture and attended local Renaissance fairs for fun.