Today was a tough day but Grace's funeral was beautiful and a celebration of her life. It was perfect and we all were able to show our love and support to Brian and Kathy. Kathy said over 1,000 people came to the funeral home last night. Little Grace sure will be missed but they have so many wonderful memories of her and she will never be forgotten. Please continue to pray as the quiet times are the hardest. Thank you to everyone who has been there for them. They need it. I told Kathy she is going to get sick of me calling and coming over. I was able to spend the day with Brian and Kathy yesterday along with her parents and we shared many stories of Grace and memories. Don't stop sharing those memories with them. She will forever be held in our hearts. There was a nice article in the Lakeshore Press today. I copied it below.
Family holds to faith after drowning
Posted by John Agar The Grand Rapids Press August 04, 2008 19:01PM
FENNVILLE -- In the backyard of a lakefront cottage, Brian and Kathy Busscher panicked when they realized their 18-month-old daughter, Grace, was missing.
Brian Busscher thought the toddler was with her mother; Kathy Busscher thought Grace was with her dad.
"A parent's worst fear became a reality," David Boeve, an uncle to the little girl, said Monday.
His niece drowned Friday at Fennville's Hutchins Lake. Rescuers worked to revive her, but she died about an hour later at Holland Hospital.
Now, her parents and other family members hold to their faith -- while remembering an adorable, loving little girl.
"She was a sweet girl, always happy," Boeve said. "She will be dearly missed by all of us."
Her death appeared to be a tragic accident, Allegan County sheriff's Detective Len Mathis said.
The family, including her infant brother, Jackson, were staying at Kathy Busscher's parents' home while the kids' grandparents were on vacation. Around 7 p.m., the parents realized Grace had wandered off. They ran to the lake.
"We've all been there," Mathis said. "A child wanders off. One parent thinks she is with the other parent. It's a tragedy. They are good parents."
Funeral services were set for today at Haven Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland. Family, friends and the church community offered prayers and support, said Sally Rietema, the church's administrative assistant. Grace will be missed by everyone, she said.She thought of the other children Grace had played with in the nursery, and said they will be sad.
"She was a sweet, lovable little girl," Rietema said.
The family lives in Drenthe, near Zeeland, and the couple come from close families.
Just a week earlier, family members camped together and created special memories, Boeve said.
The family's Internet blog shows pictures of Grace, born in January 2007, along with her brother, Jackson, who was born in May.
Most of the family photos on the Web site are of Grace enjoying time by a lake. One post says she loved going down a slide into the water "like a little bullet flying into the water and going under and coming up only to ask if she could go again."
A family portrait shows her on her mom's lap, dressed in pink with a matching bow in her hair. Others show her walking the beach with her dad, and picking her favorite vegetables in the backyard garden.
An aunt's blog showed the smiling girl, and a caption: "We have the promise that Grace is in Jesus' arms today."
Family holds to faith after drowning
Posted by John Agar The Grand Rapids Press August 04, 2008 19:01PM
FENNVILLE -- In the backyard of a lakefront cottage, Brian and Kathy Busscher panicked when they realized their 18-month-old daughter, Grace, was missing.
Brian Busscher thought the toddler was with her mother; Kathy Busscher thought Grace was with her dad.
"A parent's worst fear became a reality," David Boeve, an uncle to the little girl, said Monday.
His niece drowned Friday at Fennville's Hutchins Lake. Rescuers worked to revive her, but she died about an hour later at Holland Hospital.
Now, her parents and other family members hold to their faith -- while remembering an adorable, loving little girl.
"She was a sweet girl, always happy," Boeve said. "She will be dearly missed by all of us."
Her death appeared to be a tragic accident, Allegan County sheriff's Detective Len Mathis said.
The family, including her infant brother, Jackson, were staying at Kathy Busscher's parents' home while the kids' grandparents were on vacation. Around 7 p.m., the parents realized Grace had wandered off. They ran to the lake.
"We've all been there," Mathis said. "A child wanders off. One parent thinks she is with the other parent. It's a tragedy. They are good parents."
Funeral services were set for today at Haven Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland. Family, friends and the church community offered prayers and support, said Sally Rietema, the church's administrative assistant. Grace will be missed by everyone, she said.She thought of the other children Grace had played with in the nursery, and said they will be sad.
"She was a sweet, lovable little girl," Rietema said.
The family lives in Drenthe, near Zeeland, and the couple come from close families.
Just a week earlier, family members camped together and created special memories, Boeve said.
The family's Internet blog shows pictures of Grace, born in January 2007, along with her brother, Jackson, who was born in May.
Most of the family photos on the Web site are of Grace enjoying time by a lake. One post says she loved going down a slide into the water "like a little bullet flying into the water and going under and coming up only to ask if she could go again."
A family portrait shows her on her mom's lap, dressed in pink with a matching bow in her hair. Others show her walking the beach with her dad, and picking her favorite vegetables in the backyard garden.
An aunt's blog showed the smiling girl, and a caption: "We have the promise that Grace is in Jesus' arms today."
5 comments:
Hi Kelly,
I don't know if you know who I am, but I ran into you and Martha up north a few weeks ago at the store and then realized you and Kathy are best friends.
I just want you to know I am praying for you too!
Kim
Kathy is blessed to have you as a friend as it sounds like you have been there for her nonstop and will continue to be in the road ahead. We have been praying for them and will continue to lift them up as I'm certain the days and months ahead will bring lots of ups and downs. May God stengthen and comfort you during this time as well.
I've thought about Brian and Kathy a lot since I saw them at the visitation. I can't even imagine what they are going through right now, but know that God has a plan for them. It is a comfort to know that Grace rests in the arms of Jesus! We, as a family will continue to pray for them and you too, Kelly!!
Brian finished our basement for us a few years ago. We were shocked to hear the news. Thanks for your blog as we are now living in London and rely heavily on the internet for news. We will be praying so hard. Not just now, but in the weeks to come.
Joy and Tom Koops
dear busscher family:
i am writing to you as a mom who also had a child pass on, and i just wanted to let you know that many of us understand what you are going through now. please know there are many of us who understand and i send you both light and love and prayers. marianne in michigan, mom of joey.
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