Angelo Ayala last spoke to his daughter days before a boat crash took her life.
Ayala knew that at 20 years old, Briana Burden was “on her way to living her life” but he still wanted to check in and see how things were going.
“We always influenced her to do what was right,” Ayala told the Sun-Times Monday.
Burden was killed and six other people were injured when a boat hit a breakwall and capsized early last Friday off Oak Street Beach during a sharp burst of wind and high waves.
Burden became trapped under the boat, police and fire officials said. Chicago police were still investigating the crash and no citations or charges have been announced.
“I’m so sad that everybody got hurt,” Ayala said. “People made it, my baby didn’t make it.”
Ayala said the loss of his daughter “was devastating and that everyone was in disbelief. We are all a mess, but we’re strong, we’ll get through this.
“It’s horrible to lose a child,” Ayala said as he broke down crying.
Burden had told her younger sister that she was going to be with friends at the lakefront, but her sister advised against it because of the weather and the lateness of the hour, according to Ayala.
Ayala said he has been attending balloon releases every day since the crash, including one Sunday at the scene of the accident.
“Everybody has poured their heart out,” Ayala said. “Everybody loves her because she was so positive and so inspirational to people ... She was the light in the room.”
When Burden graduated from Carl Schurz High School, she told her family she wanted to be a positive influence. Her willingness to help others was what instantly stood out in her. “She was always an influence to people when they were down,” Ayala said.
Burden worked at a North Side nursing facility helping elderly people, the father said. She aspired to “help kids, make sure they were good in their lives and guide them through any trouble they might face.”
Burden enjoyed traveling, going to the movies and riding bikes, according to her father, who says he still has as least three of her bikes sitting in his garage.
Burden had two sisters, 18 and 24, and enjoyed going out with them and her mother to get their hair and nails done.
Ayala and Burden often went to amusement and water parks over the years — a tradition she continued with her friends.
“She loved going there and winning prizes,” Ayala said. “It was a comfort zone for her there.”
Contributing: Rosemary Sobol, Ashlee Rezin
