Tears, rain fall as tiny crash victim buried
In the compact Leland Cemetery, tucked among LaSalle County cornfields, Brooke and Robert Blockinger buried their baby in the rain Monday afternoon.
Little Kirstin Reann Blockinger, alive only 14 months, was a fighter from her birth to her untimely death in a helicopter crash in Aurora last week.
(Marianne Mather/Staff photographer)
PHOTO GALLERY
• Kirstin laid to rest
• Flight nurse a hero: 'Gave his life for little baby'
• In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for Kirstin Blockinger in care of the Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, DeKalb IL 60115. For information, call the Anderson Funeral Home at (815) 756-1022. Contributing to Kirstin's Fund
A fund has been set up by friends and community to help defray the large medical bills facing Kirstin Blockinger's family. To contribute, make checks payable to:
The Kirstin Reann Memorial Fund
The National Bank & Trust Company
2290 Sycamore Road
DeKalb IL 60115
Bouquets of flowers covered Kirstin's tiny white casket, which was dry beneath a blue tent.
Brooke sat motionless in a chair.
Her husband stood behind her, arms wrapped around her shoulders.
Friends huddled in the wet grass beneath umbrellas.
"Kirstin's body we commit to the ground," said the Rev. Wendy Witt.
"But her soul, we commit to your eternal loving care."
The crowd prayed: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name ... "
Then it was silent, except for the drumming rain and the deep sobs of a mother who just lost her baby girl.
*****
Down the rain-soaked road into DeKalb, about 80 people had filled First United Church on Oak Street an hour earlier.
There they celebrated the life of Kirstin, a little princess, who Witt said had a contagious laugh, a smile that melted hearts and eyes that danced with life.
Last Wednesday, Kirstin was suffering seizures, and was to be flown from Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich to Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital. But the medical transport helicopter crashed near Eola Road and Liberty Street in Aurora, killing the infant and the three Air Angels crew members who were working to save her life.
A few hours before Kirstin died, her 2-year-old brother Collin kissed her goodbye.
And then the toddler had a premonition, Witt said at Monday's funeral service:
"Sissy not coming home."
There was a collective gasp at the minister's announcement, and the church filled with sobs.
"But sissy was going home," Witt said over their cries. "She is now with God.
"The struggles and seizures are no more. She's strong, running and playing and rejoicing."
Brooke sat in the front row, hugging a brown teddy bear and burying her tear-stained face in her hands.
The intimate crowd prayed that God grant strength to the weak and peace to the sorrowful.
Amazing Grace rang out on the pipe organ, and from the pews rose the familiar words.
Up front, Robert tilted his head back, sobbing silently, and then he dropped his head onto his wife's shoulder.
The couple collapsed in each other's arms.
They hugged until the tiny casket was wheeled from the altar, down the aisle and into the rain that fell like tears.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF AIR ANGELS CRASH
Photos: Kirstin laid to rest
Photos: Workers fix radio tower
Photos: Copter crash probe begins
Photos: Family's mourning begins
Photos: The victims
Photos: Crash scene
Twitter: Latest developments
Map: Crash site
Tears, rain fall as tiny crash victim buried
Flight nurse a hero: 'Gave his life for little baby'
Hero's selfless final act offers some solace'
Monday stories
NTSB gets surveillance video Leland girl killed in crash laid to rest
Sunday stories
Close-knit town asks to mourn in private
Work finishes on damaged radio tower
Saturday stories
Tower work complete, residents may return
In wind, rain, workers chop up radio tower
Radio tower well-known to local pilots
Friday stories
Radio tower dismantled after helicopter crash
Family of tiniest victim mourns flight crew
Helicopter crash probe could take months
Residents evacuating apartments near tower
Witnesses describe the fiery crash
Air Angels: 'We look at what's best for the patient'
FAA under pressure to improve safety for EMS flights
Crash turns focus on air transport safety
Helicopter crew remembered as heroes
Shock settles on emergency response crews
Thursday stories
Aurora helicopter crash kills Air Angels crew, child
Friends speak of Air Angels crew's dedication
Witness: Debris rained down from the sky
NTSB investigating cause of crash
Police ask residents near crash to evacuate
Last Air Angels crash in Fox Valley 5 years ago
