UNITY

Daryn created this, I believe during her first week of school. I have been looking at the picture for a few weeks and literally every time I look at it I notice another little detail that she added. All the little details set together to create a work of art.

I think of her life and all of the details, big and little, some that I know of, others that only her parents know of, and still other details that only she knows of; all of them work together to create what was her life here.

All of the family and friends and others that may not have even had the opportunity to meet her, all working together for the Memorial Benefit on Sunday.

For the memorial benefit this Sunday; we are excited to be wearing on our shirts Daryn's artwork! Although neither the details of her art nor the colors are exactly as the original piece, the message still shines through.

UNITY

Daryn Worpel Memorial Benefit

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are Young, but set an example for the believers in Speech, in Life, in Love, in Faith, and in Purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

This reminds me of Daryn, she was young, but so mature in her beliefs. I hope that her example can be passed on to her siblings, cousins, friends, and more!

Thanks to : LynDee's Christian Books, Coffee, and Gifts, LLC. for posting this sign on East St. and for the donations they have given for raffles at the dinner on Sunday.

We are pretty happy that the number of people attending on Sunday is well over 400!! We have so many items being raffled that it is amazing. There is definitely something for everyone!! There will also be lots of stuff for kids to do. Many thanks to be given..............

We have high hopes of doing great things with the money made at the event....all in Daryn's precious name!

Real Love and Real Loss

Here is a picture of Daryn many years ago giving us all a bit of entertainment during some family pictures, what sticks out to me is her proud mom and dad, smiling so big, you can almost feel the pride and joy they feel for their baby girl, Daryn Renee'.

The following is an article a grieving mother wrote to help her explain to others how she was feeling. This is not necessarily how Joe and Kim feel exactly, but I was thinking that it may be good information for people who just don't know what to say, or what to do. I think one thing I have learned is that it is impossible to know how someone else feels. We may think we know, but we just can't, there are some things we can still do. Read on.............

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We cannot expect others to understand how we feel after the death of a child, especially if they have never gone through it. Sometimes we get angry at how friends or relatives react and respond to us. They don't know what to say or how to say it and often they say it wrong, not meaning to be cruel, but not knowing any better.

We have a choice. We can be bitter and resentful to others or we can help them understand and be part of our grief journey. What follows are what I call 10 Grief Lessons for Others. By sharing these lessons with those close to you, a new level of understanding between you and others can help you down that long difficult road to recovery.

1. BE THERE FOR ME. If you are my friend, reach out, talk to me, hold my hand, hug me. Know that even though we may say we are all right, we will never be all right again.

2. WE ARE DIFFERENT. Understand that what has happened will change us forever and if you are my friend, you will accept me for what I have become, for who I am now, a person with different goals and different priorities. What was once important to me may no longer have any meaning.

3. BE A GOOD LISTENER. We want above all else to talk about our children. To us, they will always be alive in our hearts, and we don't want others to forget them either. Don't be afraid to mention their names in our conversations. They were real people at one time, even though they are no longer with us. They had hopes and dreams we'd still like to share with others. Please don't pretend they never existed.

4. NO ONE ELSE KNOWS HOW I FEEL. We all grieve differently, even husbands and wives. Please don't tell me you know how I feel. You don't. Rather than asking me, How are you feeling? ask me What are you feeling? I can probably give you a more honest answer.

5. I MAY GRIEVE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. There is no set time limit to my grief. It may take me two years; it may take me five years. I have to do what is comfortable for me. Be patient. I will do the best I can in whatever amount of time it takes.

6. KEEP IN TOUCH. Call me once in a while. I promise to do the same. Invite me to lunch or to a movie. I will eventually go, because I will eventually feel better. Don't give up on me and don't forget me. I am trying to do the best I can right now.

7. I MAY CRY AT TIMES IN FRONT OF YOU. Please don't be embarrassed, and I won't be either. Besides being a natural emotion, crying is also a cleansing emotion. By crying I can relieve a lot of anger, frustration, guilt and stress. And best of all, I feel much better after a good cry.

8. I PUT A MASK ON FOR THE PUBLIC. Don't assume just because I am functioning during the day that I am over it. I will never get over it. I try to function normally because I have no other choice. You should see me when the day is over, and I am in the privacy of my own home and free to let my emotions out. My day mask comes off and I am just a mother, aching for her child.

9. SOME DAYS MAY BE OVERWHELMING. The slightest thing can trigger a bad time. It can be a song, a place I go, a holiday, a wedding or even smells or sounds. If I break down and start crying or seem to be in another world, it is because I am thinking of my child and longing for what I will never have again.

10. LET ME DO WHATEVER MAKES ME HAPPY. Don't think me strange if I want to go to the cemetery a lot, if I want to buy a brick in honor of my child in every new building in town, or if I want to try to get new laws passed to keep this world safe for our children. I may need to try different things before I find what will be right for me in my new life. Encourage me to reach for the stars.

We will never forget our children. The pain never leaves. It just softens a little with time. We eventually function again, feel hope again, find joy in our lives. It is a long road that we travel, but with the help of friends and relatives who understand a little of how we feel and what we are going through, perhaps that road will lead to new paths to enrich our lives in new ways we never dreamed were possible.

http://thegriefblog.com/

Generosity

Daryn could be described as a very generous person. She seemed to always want to please those around her. She was polite and kind and fun and active. I sometimes think of her as an old soul. She could sit and have a conversation with you like she was a mature adult, sometimes seeming so wise beyond her years; but then turn around and just be a kid and having loads of fun. She was special in many ways. She cared for others, not just people but animals too. That was her nature.

She always was serious about the things she did, nothing was done half-way. Some examples are decorating cupcakes (see pic) last april she was over for kaila's b-day and the girls decorated cupcakes, I soon notice Daryn decorating her's; taking her time, adding little details ( one thing I wanted to add was how the other girls seemed to noticed how she was taking her time and followed her example trying to add some extra detail as well, what a role model she already was). Also how she cared for her siblings, aways keeping an eye on Jolee and Colin, always the responsible "little mom". Her art work is another example of this. If you look at her artwork the details of it are quite amazing (which will be highlighted on our benefit t-shirts on April 27). Every little part of it she took her time and made it her own. I think that comes from her parents, who also take time to think about things and do them the "right" way.

She was and I would believe IS a reflection of her parents, and the values they taught her. That is the Daryn I remember, never a problem, always a "please" , "thank-you", soft-spoken (although she could let out some big 'ol screams when running around playing). We all miss her and continue to pray for Joe and Kim and Colin and Jolee. They need the prayers. Time passes but I am not sure if it really heals or if it is just learning how to live with the immense pain.
I just recently read that; "We were never promised that this life would be easy, but that it would be Worth it." That moment Will come when Daryn is reunited with her family, a beautiful moment it will be!

I am happy to say that the people that are working together to put on this benefit have also been extremely generous. I am amazed by all of the donations of time, raffle items, the list goes on and on. I for one know that this is going to be a successful event. It doesn't even matter how much money we make (although with all of this generosity it will be an awesome amount!)

Ticket sales are somewhere close to 350 right now, which is great. If you still want to attend please contact one of us before April 20th, the date that the caterer needs a number of people.
We just added some great golf packages including one membership to Arrowhead Golf in Lowell and another great one, two U of M football tickets, that will be raffled. If you would like a complete raffle list or tickets please email: mpolak@altelco.net.

Thank you all again!
Mindy P.

Daryn we are thinking about you especially today , your birthday, the 11th anniversary of your birth.

What a gift she has been! I hope we can all remember Daryn's beautiful life today.

It is hard to believe that it was 11 years ago today that she was brought into this world! I remember last year we celebrated Daryn's birthday on Easter Sunday with Caden.
He wanted nothing to do with the pictures or blowing out the candles, but this year he blew some out for himself and for Daryn too. I remember we got her a turqouise shirt and necklace, knowing any shade of blue looked great on Daryn with her beautiful eyes! Your mom's blonde hair, but definitely your Daddy's Blue eyes.

We are sending some Birthday balloons (blue with butterflies) with a note from us and a picture from Kaila off from the beach in Florida. We hope the message will reach her in some way shape or form. Please think of Daryn's family today and send them a prayer.

Please Remember Life Is A Gift From GOD!
Mindy P and Family

Your 11th on the 11th

Happy 11th Birthday Daryn

You are our connection from the past to the future.

Our past is full of your memories.

Our present holds on to your memory.

Our future, in HEAVEN with JESUS,

is where we will make our new memories.

We love and miss you

Taiylor, Sydney, Rylie,

Aunt Wendy &Uncle Jer

My GRANDAUGHTER,DARYN

Daryn is number three and one of my twelve grandchildren. Daryn fit into her place in the bunch of grandchildren like a piece of a puzzle. If you have ever put puzzles together then you know that when you are all done with it and a puzzle piece is missing then it's not right, it's not complete. My family is no longer complete. We never will be on this earth anyway. Daryn was a very huge piece of our family's puzzle. She loved so much and she was in turn loved by everyone so much.

Daryn was number three of our twelve beautiful grandkids. It wasn't long before I started to call the first three, Alec, Taiylor and Daryn "The Three Amigos" because they were such good friends as well as cousins. We have been blessed to all live so close to one another therefore being able to get together a lot of the time. Because of our cottage we were blessed to spend a lot of awesome times together with our kids. I thank God for that. I have so many memories of Daryn at the cottage either playing with her cousins or her mom and dad and her brother Colin and her sister Jolee. And me. Come on grandma, lets build a fire and have smores. Come on grandma lets swim across the lake! Lets jump off the raft, which she did more with her mom and dad than me! On July 4 of 05 Daryn caught the biggest Bass that any of us has ever caught in our lake. It was quite exciting for everyone. She caught it off our neighbors dock. Of course we had it mounted and it is on the wall at the cabin. So if you win the week at the Bitely Cabin you will see it. We have a very old log cabin and everytime that I go up there and go inside I think that I love the way it smells. A couple of years ago Daryn and I arrived early for the weekend and I was unlocking the door from the entryway into the cabin and Daryn said to me " I just love the way it smells here." I will never forget that moment as long as I live. Oh I have so many moments that I will never ever forget with her but that moment made me feel so close to her, something that we shared together. My arms ache with missing her, my heart is broken into pieces for our loss, for the worlds loss, for what would have been. I loved my little girl from the moment I saw her being born. And I will love her for eternity and I am waiting to see her again in heaven with our KING.

To everyone who has helped with the upcoming benefit for Daryn's scholarship fund I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been such a labor of love. We don't want her forgotten and this will help to keep her name alive.

I also wanted to say that my son Joe and daughter in law Kim and Colin and Jolee are truly awesome people. They have a faith and a strength truly given to them from God. And it's not because they aren't suffering in agony daily because I know that they are. No it's because they truly believe that Daryn is with Jesus and she is safe forever and that they will see her again. So if you see them just let them know you care, let them know you'll not forget Daryn if you knew her and lift them up in prayer.

Well, grandma has said enough for now. I love all of my children and grandchildren. God Bless them all forever.

Grandma Sandy Worpel

The 3 Musketeers

The 3 Musketeers- Daryn, Alec and Taiylor after their Spring Musical.

Love you

I found out about Daryn's upcoming coming arrival on my wedding day. My sister, my sister in-law and I were all pregnant at the same time. Alec my nephew was born in November, Taiylor my daughter was born in January,and Daryn in April ,and so the three musketeers

began. Through the next 10 years 9 other babies were born into the Worpel family.

Being a close family you are lucky enough to spend all holidays and many other fun times like hay rides, tubing in Bitely Lk., baking cookies, pumpkin carving, sledding sleepovers, birthdays, swimming, the beach and many others fun things. I thank God for all those awesome memories I hold close in my heart.

I never in my wildest dreams ever thought our family would lose a link. I know she's not lost, I know she's in Heaven, but that doesn't stop our families pain. I miss her everyday. I look at that beautiful face, and wonder," Why". I know that the why won't be answered. I do know she knew and loved God and that she is in heaven. I do know Daryn is part of our past, no longer physically in our present, and she has become part of our future in Heaven. I Love you Daryn

God Bless

Aunt Wendy

Thanks

A thank you to the Coopersville Observer for their support with coverage in their next issue regarding the Benefit and for covering the Roads Meeting in February, that my dad, Rich W. put together.

I was quite proud of my dad for following through and doing all he could to get the Road Commission to make some changes on 16th ave. and Arthur (a terrible intersection that has for some reason been the sight of at least 4 or 5 accidents in my family alone, and the last being Kim, Daryn, Colin, and Jolee being hit, due to other people running the stop sign).

It is frustrating and it is amazing what you have to do to get things done...........as my dad went and cut down the trees/brush obstructing the views on that intersection all by himself! I guess sometimes it is true , to get the job done right, you have to do it yourself! Not that you can stop others from being distracted and running the stop signs, but it is something. Thanks Dad!

Love is shown in many ways and My Dad and Mom love Daryn and miss her a ton! It makes it difficult to enjoy life with so much pain. Just remember that before long we will All be together again! I know this with all of my heart. It is all we have. Life is a gift............and it doesn't end here.

By the way if you would like to show your support for Joe and Kim, Colin and Jolee and the rest of the family and you would like to attend Daryn's Memorial Scholarship Benefit Dinner/Raffle on April 27 at the KC Hall in Conklin, you will need to purchase tickets ahead of time, we do need a number of people for the caterer by April 20. If you would like more information on the benefit please email me; mpolak@altelco.net
Thank you and God Bless!

Thanks and more ......

I think that before my niece, Daryn, was killed in a car accident last September I had no idea the pain and agony that families go through. Until something like this became personal; then and only then did I begin to realize how difficult losing a family member is. Mostly, I think about Joe and Kim and Colin and Jolee. They have to live with the loss on a day to day basis, every day they have to face what would be any parent's worst nightmare. I thank God that they still have their FAITH. Jesus Christ was Daryn's Saviour! I hope and pray that through this that many people are brought closer to God and able to live their lives with purpose. I believe many people will........ but we are all still human and still make mistakes........ so just to know that God is there and loves us and forgives us, is an amazing thing! I don't believe that Daryn's death happened for any particular reason, but we can choose to work on making positive changes in our own lives and to do some really great things in remembrance of her beautiful life.

We all need to be more loving toward one another and more forgiving as well. I feel like Love is one thing, but to actually reach out and show your love is a whole different thing. It is easy to hide behind a computer screen and email people (I am guilty here), but to actually call someone or stop over to visit, or send an actual card in the mail, or lean in for that little hug, like Daryn always did....... means so much more.

A few businesses and people to thank:
Stone Plastics
Great Lakes Label
Tequila Willies
Bud and Stanleys
J. Biermacher
Nature's Envy
Dr. Al LaFleur
Smith-Owen Sewing
Schwallier Tree and Landscaping Service
GripTrac
Raymer
Hansen Collision
VanKempen Electric
Donna's Catering
Spoelman's
These are a few of the many we want to thank. These businesses lent their support through buying "ad" space on the back of the t-shirts for the event, VK electric paid for the hall, Donna's Catering is donating their labor and working on a discounted dinner price. There are so many more people to thank, and I will try to get to everyone, including those that have donated services or items to be raffled off on the day of the benefit.

For Daryn

I have been wanting to start some sort of a web page to honor the memory of my 10 year old niece, Daryn Renee' Worpel. So here it is. When you lose a family member part of the process, at least for me has been trying to keep her memory alive. There are many ways to do this. The Internet seems to be a good place to share her memory.
Daryn was a beautiful girl inside and out. She was polite and kind. She always gave me a hug to greet me. She loved Jesus and wasn't afraid to talk about it. When Daryn was in the 2nd grade she invited me to her "Special Person's" Day. What an honor! We spent the day hanging out doing different activities and afterward we drove out to Alpine to have lunch at Fazoli's. I can remember her being so sweet and a little quiet and not wanting me to go out for lunch if I was too busy.......thank God I wasn't,because it was great day and a great memory. I also can remember taking the paddle boat out to the middle of Bitely Lake and just jumping off, she made me feel like a kid again and I forgot for a second that I was a mom. But soon I jumped back into mom mode and made her put her life jacket on, which she did not want to, but did. She was always so adventurous and willing to get out there and do things that most girls her age wouldn't think to do. She was athletic and had a pretty strong arm on her for softball. I have some great memories, probably my favorite was when she was just 5 she came over to see my first born, her cousin Kaila. She sat there and just held that tiny baby for what seemed like forever, she started to hum a sweet little song to her, it was absolutely precious!
This is also my way of sharing with you all of the wonderful people that have helped to put together a Benefit we are having on April 27 to raise funds to start a scholarship in Daryn's memory and to keep her alive within us. It is amazing all that have come together to make it happen. I know that the scholarship in itself will not necessarily do wonders in healing the family, but the support of family, friends and the community will. It is tragic to lose a child so young, and there is really nothing but Faith in Jesus our Saviour that will truly get you through.
Thank you all for your support!