REMEMBERING AND CELEBRATING DAWN BRANCHEAU
Last Wednesday, February 24th in early afternoon, Dawn Brancheau was brutally and suddenly taken away from us. Dawn was killed by a whale at SeaWorld where she has been working as a trainer for over 20 years. She is being remembered as one of the most experienced and best trainers, also as a great woman and amazing co-worker. Dawn is a woman who had a great sense of global, universal love. She had the whole creation taken care of in her love. Once around her, it did not take five minutes to get to know how loving and caring she was.
Dawn had just come to know about Mercy for Children through a neighbor family after I had been gone from St. Cloud and St. Thomas Aquinas for two years; she knew me when I was at St. Thomas Aquinas/St. Cloud where she was living with her husband, but she did not know about Mercy for Children yet.
As soon as she was able to reconnect with me and learnt that I was involved with Mercy for Children, she knew in her heart she had found what she wanted to embrace as her mission and passion.
Dawn had just come to know about Mercy for Children through a neighbor family after I had been gone from St. Cloud and St. Thomas Aquinas for two years; she knew me when I was at St. Thomas Aquinas/St. Cloud where she was living with her husband, but she did not know about Mercy for Children yet.
As soon as she was able to reconnect with me and learnt that I was involved with Mercy for Children, she knew in her heart she had found what she wanted to embrace as her mission and passion.
We were able to meet few weeks ago; she took to me to Seaworld with a friend and performed at the Shamu stadium with the whales, one will later kill her. A day I will never forgot; Dawn was off that day, but sacrificed her day off for us. It was quite cold that day and she brought blankets and jackets for all of us. She was in the water with the whales for us, she gave us an exclusive tour of the Shamu stadium and home. I remember her saying with strong conviction: "Fr. Gabe, we deal with the reality of death here every day; we love these animals to death, we are family with them." She then asked me to lead our small group in a prayer and bless the place. That day, I went back home as someone who just got reunited with his own sister after few years of separation. We stayed busy discussing the orphanage mission and making plans for a mission trip this year or next. Dawn was ready and could not wait to swim, not among the Shamu this time, but among the orphans she was already deeply in love with. She was ready for a crowd of kids to perform for her after performing for crowds with the shamu all these years. She was ready to be crowned a mother of so many across the Atlantic. She was ready to bring her legacy of Love and caring far beyond the boundaries of SeaWorld, Orlando and USA. Dawn was ready to jump into her next stage of "Believe".
We had a wonderful Valentine fundraising event in St. Cloud on February 13th; a great dinner dance and silent auction were put together for MFC by our St. Cloud members. Dawn was so sad she could not be with us since she had already made some plan with families. She sponsored the event with SeaWorld gift baskets and helped obtain for us Tickets from SeaWorld for the auction. We did generate quite some good money with the items.
I got the news of Dawn's death when I was preparing for an evening Bible Study. I was in shock, disbelief, in trembling and overwhelming sorrow. Mercy for Children and myself have lost a family member. A great mother and leader these orphans will never get to meet.
I drove to St. Cloud last Thursday to spend some time with the family and minister to them. We hope to have a memorial service after she has been put to rest in Chicago this Monday March 2nd, where she was born and raised, and where her beloved father is resting. A funeral mass will be offered there prior to her burial.
Dawn will for ever be a part of our family at Mercy for Children and we hope to keep her loving and beautiful memories alive somewhere.
We had a wonderful Valentine fundraising event in St. Cloud on February 13th; a great dinner dance and silent auction were put together for MFC by our St. Cloud members. Dawn was so sad she could not be with us since she had already made some plan with families. She sponsored the event with SeaWorld gift baskets and helped obtain for us Tickets from SeaWorld for the auction. We did generate quite some good money with the items.
I got the news of Dawn's death when I was preparing for an evening Bible Study. I was in shock, disbelief, in trembling and overwhelming sorrow. Mercy for Children and myself have lost a family member. A great mother and leader these orphans will never get to meet.
I drove to St. Cloud last Thursday to spend some time with the family and minister to them. We hope to have a memorial service after she has been put to rest in Chicago this Monday March 2nd, where she was born and raised, and where her beloved father is resting. A funeral mass will be offered there prior to her burial.
Dawn will for ever be a part of our family at Mercy for Children and we hope to keep her loving and beautiful memories alive somewhere.
Rest in peace, mama Dawn! Rest in peace Beloved Sister! Rest in peace great woman of Faith and leadership! Rest in peace princess of "Believe and you can do it"! We will for ever miss you! We are certain you have returned to your Loving and unfailing Creator!
