Post by Decatur on Jun 7, 2006 6:15:43 GMT -5
Body of coed in mix-up is returned to hometown
By John Flesher
Associated Press
GAYLORD, Mich. – Laura VanRyn’s body was exhumed Tuesday from the northern Michigan cemetery where she was laid to rest more than five weeks ago after being mistakenly identified as a Taylor University classmate.
A city public works crew removed the casket from a Fairview Cemetery plot where it had lain under a marker identifying the body as that of Whitney Cerak, who actually had survived an April 26 traffic crash that killed VanRyn and four others on Interstate 69 in Grant County.
VanRyn’s body arrived Tuesday afternoon at Zaagman Memorial Chapel in Grand Rapids, funeral home owner Bob Zaagman said.
A private graveside service likely will take place within a few days, Zaagman said.
The 22-year-old woman will be reburied near relatives in Graceland Memorial Park in Kent County’s Grand Rapids Township, Zaagman said.
“When you talk to people whose sons or daughters were lost in combat and their bodies were not recovered, there’s always that hole, a feeling of emptiness that nothing’s been finalized. There’s just so much unknown,” Zaagman said.
“This just helps, I think, bring closure to them, probably just a more comforting feeling knowing that her body is going to be near her grandparents, and she has a cousin that’s buried there.”
VanRyn and Cerak, now 19, bore a striking resemblance to each other and were returning from banquet preparations in Fort Wayne with a group from Taylor University in Upland when a tractor-trailer rig slammed into their van.
Their families were told that Cerak had died and that VanRyn was alive but seriously injured and in a coma.
VanRyn’s family stayed at her bedside – in the Grand Rapids area 180 miles south of Gaylord – for weeks, not realizing the mistaken identity until after she regained consciousness and was undergoing therapy. Dental records confirmed the mix-up last week.
“Their faith is definitely sustaining them during this time,” said Andy Smith, a pastor at Forest Hills Bible Chapel, where the VanRyn family attends church.
Gates to Gaylord-owned Fairview Cemetery were closed Tuesday morning as workers dug out the grave with a piece of heavy machinery. Police guarded the site, which was visible from across a nearby road.
The casket was loaded into a hearse, which then drove out of the cemetery. The exhumation took less than an hour.
“It’s been a trying week,” said Joe Duff, Gaylord’s city manager, adding that the tragedy had “never been out of anyone’s mind.”
“Now we can look forward to welcoming the Ceraks home,” Duff said.
Cerak, who suffered a brain injury and broken bones, cuts and scrapes that left her face swollen, continues recovering at a rehabilitation center operated by Spectrum Health.
Newell Cerak, her father and pastor of young adults at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, said the family was “overjoyed” at her progress.
“She has been increasing in endurance each moment, it seems – sitting up to eat her meals, feeding herself and cleaning the plate,” Newell Cerak wrote Monday on a blog posted Tuesday on the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church Web site. “We are told that if she keeps this up, the tube they have been using to feed her will be removed soon. Praise God!
“She sleeps soundly through the night, waking only once or twice to use the restroom. After her therapy sessions, she sleeps more, getting much needed rest so that she can continue to heal.
“She continues to ask when she (can) go home and when she can be rid of the neckbrace. She speaks sweetly in a soft voice asking of those she meets ‘Hi,’ ‘How are you?’ and ‘What have you been doing?’ ”
In Gaylord, Police Chief Joe FitzGerald said local residents were still concerned about the VanRyns while rejoicing with the Ceraks.
“You feel wonderful for one family and terrible for another,” he said before leaving the cemetery after VanRyn’s body was removed.
By John Flesher
Associated Press
GAYLORD, Mich. – Laura VanRyn’s body was exhumed Tuesday from the northern Michigan cemetery where she was laid to rest more than five weeks ago after being mistakenly identified as a Taylor University classmate.
A city public works crew removed the casket from a Fairview Cemetery plot where it had lain under a marker identifying the body as that of Whitney Cerak, who actually had survived an April 26 traffic crash that killed VanRyn and four others on Interstate 69 in Grant County.
VanRyn’s body arrived Tuesday afternoon at Zaagman Memorial Chapel in Grand Rapids, funeral home owner Bob Zaagman said.
A private graveside service likely will take place within a few days, Zaagman said.
The 22-year-old woman will be reburied near relatives in Graceland Memorial Park in Kent County’s Grand Rapids Township, Zaagman said.
“When you talk to people whose sons or daughters were lost in combat and their bodies were not recovered, there’s always that hole, a feeling of emptiness that nothing’s been finalized. There’s just so much unknown,” Zaagman said.
“This just helps, I think, bring closure to them, probably just a more comforting feeling knowing that her body is going to be near her grandparents, and she has a cousin that’s buried there.”
VanRyn and Cerak, now 19, bore a striking resemblance to each other and were returning from banquet preparations in Fort Wayne with a group from Taylor University in Upland when a tractor-trailer rig slammed into their van.
Their families were told that Cerak had died and that VanRyn was alive but seriously injured and in a coma.
VanRyn’s family stayed at her bedside – in the Grand Rapids area 180 miles south of Gaylord – for weeks, not realizing the mistaken identity until after she regained consciousness and was undergoing therapy. Dental records confirmed the mix-up last week.
“Their faith is definitely sustaining them during this time,” said Andy Smith, a pastor at Forest Hills Bible Chapel, where the VanRyn family attends church.
Gates to Gaylord-owned Fairview Cemetery were closed Tuesday morning as workers dug out the grave with a piece of heavy machinery. Police guarded the site, which was visible from across a nearby road.
The casket was loaded into a hearse, which then drove out of the cemetery. The exhumation took less than an hour.
“It’s been a trying week,” said Joe Duff, Gaylord’s city manager, adding that the tragedy had “never been out of anyone’s mind.”
“Now we can look forward to welcoming the Ceraks home,” Duff said.
Cerak, who suffered a brain injury and broken bones, cuts and scrapes that left her face swollen, continues recovering at a rehabilitation center operated by Spectrum Health.
Newell Cerak, her father and pastor of young adults at Gaylord Evangelical Free Church, said the family was “overjoyed” at her progress.
“She has been increasing in endurance each moment, it seems – sitting up to eat her meals, feeding herself and cleaning the plate,” Newell Cerak wrote Monday on a blog posted Tuesday on the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church Web site. “We are told that if she keeps this up, the tube they have been using to feed her will be removed soon. Praise God!
“She sleeps soundly through the night, waking only once or twice to use the restroom. After her therapy sessions, she sleeps more, getting much needed rest so that she can continue to heal.
“She continues to ask when she (can) go home and when she can be rid of the neckbrace. She speaks sweetly in a soft voice asking of those she meets ‘Hi,’ ‘How are you?’ and ‘What have you been doing?’ ”
In Gaylord, Police Chief Joe FitzGerald said local residents were still concerned about the VanRyns while rejoicing with the Ceraks.
“You feel wonderful for one family and terrible for another,” he said before leaving the cemetery after VanRyn’s body was removed.