Feature Article September 18, 2002
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Community support helps grieving familyby Jeff Green On Friday, September 6, 13-year-old Natasha Trickey from Henderson, who was just beginning Grade 8 at Land O Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, died suddenly of pancreatitis.
Although Natasha had been suffering from stomach pains, she had been in school on Thursday, September 5.
Natashas father Tim Trickey, a paramedic with the Northbrook Ambulance service, told the News that since Natashas death he has been overwhelmed by the support shown by the community in Henderson, Arden, and Mountain Grove towards himself, his wife Darlene, and their son Jordan. Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for the people of this region, he said.
It was a difficult week for students at Land O Lakes school as well. On Monday, two teachers who left the school this year to take postings elsewhere, Eric Vreeken and Debbie Clow, returned for the day to help the students. There were extra counsellors on hand as well. On Wednesday, a memorial service was held for Natasha at the school, attended by Tim and Darlene Trickey. The students sang, and there were speakers as well. Pastor Vernon Scott, whose children attend the school as well, gave each student a piece of a jigsaw puzzle to represent their personal and collective memories of Natasha. Roses and special memory books were then presented to Darlene and Tim.
The school has decided to change focus of their fundraising walkathon this year, and will be using some of the proceeds to put a park bench and a flowering tree on the school grounds in Natashas name.
At the Arden Standard Church there were long lineups at the wake on Monday, and so many people attended the funeral on Tuesday that Pastor Scott placed speakers on the front steps so the people outside could hear the proceedings. Tim Trickey said he has received condolences not only from throughout the local area, but from Ottawa and Toronto, and parts in between.
Pastor Scott told the News he thought the response shows how strong and caring the local community is. While people cannot comprehend the kind of grief the family is going through unless they have suffered a similar tragedy, they do have a great amount of sympathy for a neighbours suffering. For his own part, Pastor Scott talked about a ball tournament that Natasha had participated in earlier this summer. Natasha had suffered from anorexia, but had been maintaining her weight in recent months, and Pastor Scott recalls how happy and joyful she had been at the ball tournament. He also talked, as did her father, of Natashas interest in the field of paramedics, and her desire to one day join her father in the profession.
Natasha Trickey faced many trials in her short life, including her battle with anorexia. In the days, weeks, and months ahead, the Trickey family will be in need of continued community support.
