A sea of white “Forever in our Hearts” balloons took to the sky at Plum Coulee School Sept. 27 in memory of kindergarten teacher Lori Driedger.
Students and staff at the school combined their annual Terry Fox School Run with a Walk for Cancer in honour of Driedger, who died of the disease this summer.
Principal Mary Eberling-Penner explained they wanted to give the kids a chance to remember and honour Driedger, who had taught at the school for 16 years.
The community at large was invited to join the kids as they spent about an hour walking around the school grounds. Everyone was encouraged to wear something pink, which was Driedger’s favourite colour.
The day raised over $1,300 for the Terry Fox Foundation, which supports cancer research.
Driedger’s husband, Brian Driedger, shared a few words of thanks and remembrance at the event.
“I want to thank each one of you for paying tribute to Mrs. Driedger,” he told the assembled walkers, stressing as well how important supporting research into cancer treatments is, given how many lives the disease touches.
Lori’s death has “changed our lives and our family, and I’m sure that your school is a little different as well, not hearing Mrs. Driedger walk down the hallway,” he continued. “Definitely her laugh; that was probably a very unique laugh, and I always could pick her out from a crowd.”
Driedger asked the kids how many of them had his wife as their kindergarten teacher. Nearly every hand went up.
“She appreciated every one of you,” he said. “She always did the best to try to teach you and prepare you for Gr. 1.”
Driedger shared that Lori had feared getting cancer ever since she was a child. But upon receiving her terminal diagnosis, a sense of peace came over her.
“She told me, ‘I felt God in that room. I am totally at peace,’” he said. “She wasn’t anxious … she was calm … and she had peace and calmness for the rest of the two weeks that she was in the hospital.”
He attributed her settled state of mind in the midst of hardship to her faith in God, and noted her family are leaning on their faith as well in their grief.
He shared that the family stopped by Plum Coulee School after the funeral to read some of the messages and memories staff and students posted on Driedger’s classroom window. The outpouring of support meant a lot to them, Driedger said.
Photos by Ashleigh Viveiros/Voice
