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Memorial held for man dedicated to helping those recovering from addiction

606 views · Published 4 October 2018 · 3:36 · Indexed 4 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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FLORENCE, KY. (WKRC) – Ivan Faske was a man on a mission. A man dedicated to recovery and helping others. In a time where overdose deaths overshadowed the comeback stories, Faske was a beacon of hope for addicts searching for help.

"Ivan saved my life, my children will tell you that Ivan saved my life, my wife will tell you that Ivan saved my life,” Kurt Platte said.

Platte is now a Serenity Recovery Network Board Member. But years ago, he sought help at the Serenity House, a recovery home for men that Faske co-founded.

“He laid it down daily because he believed in human beings and he wanted them to get better,” Platte said.

After battling cancer for many years, Faske passed away on Sept. 16th. Nearly two weeks after his death, the auditorium at Crossroads Church in Florence was full of people impacted by the love and 'never give up' mentality of Faske.

“I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Ivan, I wouldn’t be clean today if it wasn’t for Ivan,” Allison Marchioni said.

Marchioni is an alum of Angie’s House of Freedom and Miracles, a recovery home for women. She got into the home thanks to Faske and Angie Edwards.

“It’s really sad that there are going to be a lot of people that don’t get to meet him. But the cool part is that he’s touched so many people and left a legacy behind that we can all pass that on,” Marchioni said.

Marchioni now works in the addiction and treatment field. She’s expecting her first child. Like Marchioni, Faske gave people hope, hope for a better life, hope for life in recovery from addiction.

“Ivan was one of the most caring people I’ve ever met,” Michael Veder, a former Serenity Recovery Network Board Member, said. “One of the main things Ivan taught people after he got them help and back on track was that they had to in turn start helping people.”

As people shared their stories and stories of Faske Saturday morning, it’s clear that hope that Faske gave them will not fade and the fight will go on, one day at a time, one addict at a time.

“The disease of addiction has something coming after it right now, it’s being hunted by all these people that were influenced by Ivan,” said Platte. “They’re rising up and the disease should be really really scared.”

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