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Re: Parents of Students Missing in Haiti Quake Tell U.S. to 'Get in There'
Hundreds attend funeral for Rutland student who died in Haiti
February 20, 2010 04:43 PM
By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff
Nineteen-year-old Britney Gengel was remembered at a funeral service today as a young woman with a big heart who had found her calling during the community service mission to Haiti in which she died, a victim of the massive Jan. 12 earthquake there.
Britney Gengel
Hundreds of Gengel's family members, friends and fellow students at Lynn University filled St. John's Catholic Church for a funeral Mass. The 90-minute service drew top government officials, including US Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, Congressman James McGovern of Worcester, and Haitian Consul Emanuelle Dupiton, along with a representative of the US State Department.
The pastor of the church recalled Gengel as a young woman who had organized a toy drive at St. John's each Christmas. "I mean, she was in charge -- not her mother, not her pastor," said the Reverend John Madden, eliciting chuckles from the estimated 1,000 mourners who filled the red-brick church near downtown Worcester.
Madden also praised the faith of Gengel's parents, whom he said give generously to St. John's. "That inspiration came to her from her parents, Len and Cherylann," he said. Madden called the 39 days for which Gengel was missing "a story of faith, all the way through."
"Britney was blessed physically, she was emotionally blessed, she was materially blessed, but most importantly she was spiritually blessed," Madden said.
"What was most important, I think, was that she did it with such joy, with such vitality," he said.
In an emotional eulogy, her parents, with their teenage sons Bernie and Richie at their sides, thanked the work of those who had helped bring their daughter home.
"We know in our hearts we would not have gotten her back," Len Gengel said, his voice breaking. "We are eternally grateful to everyone one of you who have helped us these past 39 days. God bless you," he said to applause. Cherylann Gengel praised her husband for leading the effort that led to the recovery of Britney and seven other students and staff from Lynn University from beneath the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Port-au-Prince.
"This really would not have happened if Len did not advocate for our daughter. I need to publicly thank Len for everything he did for us," she said, and the congregation stood in applause.
The mother said her only daughter and eldest child found her calling during her short stay in Haiti, where she was attending a program to feed the poor. She recalled a phone conversation with her daughter on the night of Jan. 11, the day she arrived.
"She fell in love with the people of Haiti, but especially the children," she said. "As a mom, I ache for the children of Haiti, but I am so proud of my daughter."
She pledged that the Gengel family will "keep her memory alive."
"We will continue Britney's work to help the people of Haiti. You know why? Because she was fabulous," the family said in unison.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/hundreds_attend_2.html
Hundreds attend funeral for Rutland student who died in Haiti
February 20, 2010 04:43 PM
By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff
Nineteen-year-old Britney Gengel was remembered at a funeral service today as a young woman with a big heart who had found her calling during the community service mission to Haiti in which she died, a victim of the massive Jan. 12 earthquake there.
Britney Gengel
Hundreds of Gengel's family members, friends and fellow students at Lynn University filled St. John's Catholic Church for a funeral Mass. The 90-minute service drew top government officials, including US Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, Congressman James McGovern of Worcester, and Haitian Consul Emanuelle Dupiton, along with a representative of the US State Department.
The pastor of the church recalled Gengel as a young woman who had organized a toy drive at St. John's each Christmas. "I mean, she was in charge -- not her mother, not her pastor," said the Reverend John Madden, eliciting chuckles from the estimated 1,000 mourners who filled the red-brick church near downtown Worcester.
Madden also praised the faith of Gengel's parents, whom he said give generously to St. John's. "That inspiration came to her from her parents, Len and Cherylann," he said. Madden called the 39 days for which Gengel was missing "a story of faith, all the way through."
"Britney was blessed physically, she was emotionally blessed, she was materially blessed, but most importantly she was spiritually blessed," Madden said.
"What was most important, I think, was that she did it with such joy, with such vitality," he said.
In an emotional eulogy, her parents, with their teenage sons Bernie and Richie at their sides, thanked the work of those who had helped bring their daughter home.
"We know in our hearts we would not have gotten her back," Len Gengel said, his voice breaking. "We are eternally grateful to everyone one of you who have helped us these past 39 days. God bless you," he said to applause. Cherylann Gengel praised her husband for leading the effort that led to the recovery of Britney and seven other students and staff from Lynn University from beneath the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Port-au-Prince.
"This really would not have happened if Len did not advocate for our daughter. I need to publicly thank Len for everything he did for us," she said, and the congregation stood in applause.
The mother said her only daughter and eldest child found her calling during her short stay in Haiti, where she was attending a program to feed the poor. She recalled a phone conversation with her daughter on the night of Jan. 11, the day she arrived.
"She fell in love with the people of Haiti, but especially the children," she said. "As a mom, I ache for the children of Haiti, but I am so proud of my daughter."
She pledged that the Gengel family will "keep her memory alive."
"We will continue Britney's work to help the people of Haiti. You know why? Because she was fabulous," the family said in unison.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/hundreds_attend_2.html
