WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Butterfly garden dedicated in honor of Seymour Girl (Derby-WTNH) _ A butterfly garden is being dedicated to a girl from Seymour. 12-year-old Laura Cournoyer died in a ski accident in February. Now her family and friends, and the state, are remembering her in a very special way. News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has the story. Valerie Cournoyer, Mother: "It's amazing as a parent to find out after the fact how your daughter affected other people. That's very comforting to us." There's been little to take comfort in for the Cournoyer family since their 12 year old daughter, Laura, died in a skiing accident back in February. But now this is the place where family and friends will find some peace -- a butterfly garden at the Kellog Environmental Center in Derby. Dave Cournoyer, Father: "She is not with us, but it's sort of a comforting feeling just being here in these surroundings where I have been with before." Friends from Seymour Middle School helped plant flowers in the garden dedicated to Laura. She used to work at the center. Molly Baklak, Seymour Middle School: "It's like a place I can come to remember her other than the graveyard, because this is a little more happy." Brittany Glynn, Seymour Middle School: "Its really hard for me still, even though its been a while. Laura was my best friend." And for many there is a similarity between the outgoing girl and the butterfly. Paul Porter, Principal Middle School "They are sweet, loving, caring, like Laura was our butterfly." The entire Seymour community reached out to the Cournoyer family after the accident, lending their support, planning fundraisers, even making meals. Her parents tell me they had no idea how many lives their daughter touched. Valerie Cournoyer: "It's comforting to me to know she was so good to so many people." It is here in the garden her friends and family say they will come to feel close to Laura. The dance studio where Cournoyer took lessons set up a performing arts scholarship in her name, and family friends are sponsoring a dinner dance this week in her name. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Butterfly garden dedicated in honor of Seymour Girl
(Derby-WTNH) _ A butterfly garden is being dedicated to a girl from Seymour. 12-year-old Laura Cournoyer died in a ski accident in February. Now her family and friends, and the state, are remembering her in a very special way.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has the story.

Valerie Cournoyer, Mother: "It's amazing as a parent to find out after the fact how your daughter affected other people. That's very comforting to us."

garden There's been little to take comfort in for the Cournoyer family since their 12 year old daughter, Laura, died in a skiing accident back in February. But now this is the place where family and friends will find some peace -- a butterfly garden at the Kellog Environmental Center in Derby.

Dave Cournoyer, Father: "She is not with us, but it's sort of a comforting feeling just being here in these surroundings where I have been with before."

Friends from Seymour Middle School helped plant flowers in the garden dedicated to Laura. She used to work at the center.

Molly Baklak, Seymour Middle School: "It's like a place I can come to remember her other than the graveyard, because this is a little more happy."

Brittany Glynn, Seymour Middle School: "Its really hard for me still, even though its been a while. Laura was my best friend."

And for many there is a similarity between the outgoing girl and the butterfly.

Paul Porter, Principal Middle School "They are sweet, loving, caring, like Laura was our butterfly."

The entire Seymour community reached out to the Cournoyer family after the accident, lending their support, planning fundraisers, even making meals. Her parents tell me they had no idea how many lives their daughter touched.

Valerie Cournoyer: "It's comforting to me to know she was so good to so many people."

It is here in the garden her friends and family say they will come to feel close to Laura.

The dance studio where Cournoyer took lessons set up a performing arts scholarship in her name, and family friends are sponsoring a dinner dance this week in her name.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.