The Heather LaMarche Story
Our precious daughter, Heather, was born in February, 1988. She was the oldest of our three children. Her personality was shy, funny, quirky, artsy and musical. In August 2007, our world came crashing down on us. In a split second and a couple of inches, a drunk driver took our daughter’s life. I will never get to see her again, hear her play her guitar, see any new art work. I have been told that you get used to a new normal. Well, I don’t like my new normal, but I wasn’t given a choice. It’s hard to go to a craft store, because it reminds me of her. A simple box full of felt, pipe cleaners, styrofoam and buttons made her happy. S he would use her imagination and talent to make such beautiful things. I think of her every time I hear a Pink Floyd song, especially “Wish You Were Here”, one of the first songs she ever taught herself. I miss going to SamAsh and looking for the next item to add to her collection. I wonder what she would be doing now. Would she be married, have children, what kind of career she would be in, things that will remain only in my dreams. Losing a child is the HARDEST thing in the world that no parent should have to do. Picking up the pieces after something like this takes every ounce of strength and courage even though you don’t have any of it at times. You take one day at a time, even four years later.
The drunk driver that killed my daughter admitted to police that he had six beers. He had no driver’s license and was here illegally. He made the $10,000 bail and ran. No day in court, no jail sentence, no “I’m sorry”. Nothing! My daughter died instantly, no wondering if she would make it, no hope she might make it, she was just gone. Her death certificate says homicide, not an accident, and yet they just let him go.
The whole of our family has been left to just a hole. Things will never quite be the same, never as joyous, never as funny, never as good as it should have been. I know she is in a better place, and it makes my day when I get a sign, a bug, a song, an unexplained quirk that I know it must be Heather. Until we meet again, keep rocking the heavens and know that we love you always Heather Alyse ( a.k.a. Ha-Ha)
The LaMarche Family
Artistic Eyes Piercing Eyes The kind that showed us Sunrises and starry nights Playing riffs on her guitar Trying to be a rock star She always was inside our hearts We now hear her concerts from afar Full of life Full of heart Always expressed it Through her music and art Now as we cry Many tears from our eyes We remember the music and art From those artistic eyes By: Don Gaunky
