By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/16/02)
MANASSAS — Eight-year-old Anthony Barbazette told mourners at All Saints Church in Manassas that Tierney Hoppe, who he had known since they were baptized together, "will always be my friend."
Ilene Hoppe’s sense of humor, friendship and courage were remembered by her best friend Sarah Garrison and family friends on what would have been her 17th birthday.
A memorial Mass for the two sisters, who died as a result of a March 24 car accident on a family trip to Florida, was held May 10 at All Saints, where the Hoppes are longtime members.
Early Palm Sunday morning, the Hoppe family was traveling near Jacksonville, Fla., on their way to visit Kathy Hoppe’s parents, when a deer ran in front of their SUV. Hoppe swerved to avoid the deer, causing the vehicle to go out of control and roll several times.
Eight-year-old Tierney, a third-grader at Yorkshire Elementary School in Manassas, died instantly. Her critically injured sisters Ilene, 16, and Meghan, 18, students at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, were medivaced to a Jacksonville area hospital along with Kathy, her husband Mike and three-year-old son Jackson.
Kathy sustained minor injuries and Mike suffered a broken jaw. Jackson was held overnight at the hospital for observation, but was released the next day with a cut foot.
The oldest Hoppe daughter, Krysta, 20, was not on the trip.
After undergoing a month of treatment for critical injuries, Ilene died on April 30.
Meghan, who was paralyzed from the waist down, began rehabilitation in Florida, but this was interrupted when she required treatment for a lacerated liver. On May 4, Meghan was flown by air ambulance to INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital’s rehabilitation unit, where she is recuperating.
Parochial Vicar Father Paul Grankauskas said in his homily that family and friends had gathered in mourning, but also in hope, knowing that through baptism, Tierney and Ilene "are co-heirs of Christ." He said their deaths "remind us of our own mortality."
Father Grankauskas recounted hearing about Ilene’s courage and humor "even in suffering," and noted that Tierney was a "loving soul … one of the last things she did was protect her little brother."
After Mass, several speakers shared stories about the girls with the congregation of tearful family and friends.
Longtime family friend Kevin Carnahan recalled how close the sisters were and how they loved to sing and dance. He said Ilene, who was known as Beanie, was never shy about saying what she thought. Remembering Tierney’s kindness, Carnahan said, "I never saw her be mean to anyone, ever."
The girls’ uncle, Sean Keller, ended the memorial by singing the Phil Collins song, "You’ll Be in My Heart." There were few dry eyes as his voice filled All Saints Church, "From this day on, now and forever more, you’ll be in my heart … I may not be with you, but you’ve got to go on."
All Saints Parish made a generous donation from its parish emergency fund to assist the Hoppe Family Fund. Anyone who would like to assist the Hoppes with medical bills and other needs can send a donation to: Bank of America, Attn.: Mrs. Wetsel, Branch Manager, Manassas Shopping Center, 8501 Sudley Road, Manassas, Va. 20109-3564, Re: Kathyrn Hoppe, Acct. #005481936507.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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