‘We’ll Never Forget You’

A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS: A candle lights a photo of Deidre Week on the altar of St. James Catholic Church Sunday.

April 10, 1995

By MYSTIQUE MACOMBER

Tribune Staff Writer

VESPER – People filled St. James Catholic Church Sunday night to honor and support Deidre Week’s family in memory of the little girl who has gone to her heavenly Father.

“Basically, we have come here today to rejoice,” said the Rev. Chester Osowski, pastor, “because everything else blurs compared to eternal glory. Deidre has grasped that priceless, priceless gift – life with God forever.”

The 11-year-old daughter of Dave and Brenda Week was killed March 24 when the bicycle she was riding was struck by a vehicle near her home, north of Vesper. Police continue to search for the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle.

At the Last Supper, a sad time for Jesus, He told His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You are trusting God, not trust me,” Osowski said.

“The family of Deidre and a community of concerned people have gone through a time of mourning and grief, but it's tragic to let one moment blot out the rest of her life,” he said.

“There is a right time for everything, a time to be born, a time to die… a time to laugh, a time to mourn,” according to the book of Ecclesiastes, Osowki said.

He shared David’s story from the second book of Samuel. David and Bathsheba’s child was sick. David fasted and prayed before the Lord to save the child. On the seventh day, after the child died, David rose up, washed himself, worshipped in the tabernacle and ate.

His servants asked him why he had acted as he had when the child was alive, yet, after his death, arose and ate. David told them when the child was alive, he fasted and prayed that God might graciously spare the child.

But after the child’s death, there was no way for him to bring the child back.

“‘He cannot return to me, but I shall go to him,’ David told his servants, Osowski said.

“We all respond to death with a sense of sorrow, so when we grieve in the presence of death, we show we care,” he said. “David faced the future with hope.

“First we celebrate the gift of Deidre,” he said. “Look how beautifully God makes us … He loves us with an undying love, and now, very lovingly, we give her back to the Father,” he said.

At Deidre’s funeral, Osowski said he was edified by her parents’ actions, as they carefully comforted those who had come to comfort them. God can do wonderful things,” he said.

Osowski spoke at a candlelight vigil organized by Deborah Dederich and Kathryn Stuttgen. Musical tributes, including a song written for the occasion by Lori A. Johnson, scripture readings and reflections, and sharing of memories were featured.

Through tears, two of Deidre’s classmates read a letter they composted to her, remembering their times together on the school bus and as friends.

“Deidre, if we could hug you, we’d never let you go,” they read. “We’ll never forget you.”

A SONG FOR DEIDRE: Elisha, 11, and Lori Paul, of Vesper, (from left) listen to a song written in honor of Deidre Week during the candlelight vigil Sunday at St, James Catholic Church. The service featured songs, dances and speeches celebrating Deidre.