Church Remembers Teen with Memorial Garden
By: Alan Van Zandt
Updated: March 18, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) It was a bittersweet birthday for the late Cole Patrick, who would have just turned 19 years old.
His friends and family gathered to remember him three months after his death with a groundbreaking and blessing of a memorial garden in his name at Cathedral Church and School.
"It's just been so hard for everybody to say goodbye to a young man that was so full of life and had so many friends," says Cathedral Principal Mary Burgess.
"Always crazy and happy and always smiling and doing good things for everyone and never was selfish," says friend Katie Barry.
"He was maybe one of the smartest persons I know," added another friend, Jackie Schoeneck.
Patrick died in December after a late night, one-car traffic accident on Cook Road. He was a passenger in a car driven by 17-year-old Dylan Pierce of DeKalb. Police say alcohol and speed played a role in the crash. Pierce is now facing manslaughter charges.
But, Saturday was a day to remember Cole.
"Today we can celebrate his life and the good friends he had and know that he will always be part of us," says Burgess.
The gesture of creating the memorial was appreciated by his parents.
"It'll be here whenever we come to church. It'll be a memory that will last for a long time to come," says Patrick's mother Jeanie.
"That smile of his, the teachers always knew that he was up to something," adds Patrick's father Wally. "But he was always joyful and a fun kid. We'll think of that every time we see it."
Principal Burgess said Patrick was a part of the Cathedral family.
"When we lose one especially so young, it is like losing our own kids. We give our heart and soul to these kids," she says.
The statue placed in the garden is of St. Patrick, recognizing Cole's last name. The design of the plaque and of the plantings for the gardens was all done by friends and family.
His friends and family gathered to remember him three months after his death with a groundbreaking and blessing of a memorial garden in his name at Cathedral Church and School.
"It's just been so hard for everybody to say goodbye to a young man that was so full of life and had so many friends," says Cathedral Principal Mary Burgess.
"Always crazy and happy and always smiling and doing good things for everyone and never was selfish," says friend Katie Barry.
"He was maybe one of the smartest persons I know," added another friend, Jackie Schoeneck.
Patrick died in December after a late night, one-car traffic accident on Cook Road. He was a passenger in a car driven by 17-year-old Dylan Pierce of DeKalb. Police say alcohol and speed played a role in the crash. Pierce is now facing manslaughter charges.
But, Saturday was a day to remember Cole.
"Today we can celebrate his life and the good friends he had and know that he will always be part of us," says Burgess.
The gesture of creating the memorial was appreciated by his parents.
"It'll be here whenever we come to church. It'll be a memory that will last for a long time to come," says Patrick's mother Jeanie.
"That smile of his, the teachers always knew that he was up to something," adds Patrick's father Wally. "But he was always joyful and a fun kid. We'll think of that every time we see it."
Principal Burgess said Patrick was a part of the Cathedral family.
"When we lose one especially so young, it is like losing our own kids. We give our heart and soul to these kids," she says.
The statue placed in the garden is of St. Patrick, recognizing Cole's last name. The design of the plaque and of the plantings for the gardens was all done by friends and family.
