The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Wendy Vernon wrote…

Almost one year ago our daughter, Lala Debari, was killed in a car accident on Fire Road 15. She was a passenger in a car driven by a friend and had left home 10 minutes before the accident. There were no drugs or alcohol in her system but the car was driven at a very high speed and all three girls in the car were killed immediately.

This has been the most painful, soul wrenching year of my life. I have walked thousands of miles in the woods around Sisters for solace, danced many hours, cried, prayed, and wondered why.

Dominic and I would like to thank the people of Sisters who have been generous in their loving and care, those who made food, brought flowers, sat with us in silence, held our hands.

I particularly want to publicly thank my four sentinels who have stood by, buffered me from the world, hiked with me, loved me and been friends of the most necessary sort: Angeline Rhett, Stacy Hougham, Robine Bots, and Treasure Lewis. I also want to thank Shanon Abero who was Lala’s dance teacher and has danced with me weekly this entire year, helping me move with the spirit of my girl in a most meaningful way.

Many kind people have offered contact — please know that being in the day-to-day world has been very difficult and we appreciate your care even if we never responded or said no thank you.

So much loving-kindness when the world was spinning in multiple realms. We thank you. We miss our girl so very, very much. Please remember her — her spirit, humor, dancing, generosity, loyalty, and her huge kindness. Lala is always and forever loved.