Hundreds mourn girl who came from orphanage in China to American dream
March 29, 2010
What might have been was on the minds of hundreds who gathered to mourn the loss of 17-year-old Faith Dremmer, whose tragic death in a bicycling accident ended what one family friend said had been a happy "American story" of a former Chinese orphan.
Temple Sholom Rabbi Aaron Petuchowski, presiding over her funeral service here Sunday, painted a poignant portrait of a phenomenal teenager who was tragically gone too soon. He told of how Dremmer, a member of math and science clubs at the University of Chicago Laboratory School, volunteered, engaging children with cancer, served as a peer leader for young students on community service and donated her hair to a nonprofit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children.
She "brought sunshine" and "was full of promise and potential," Petuchowski said.
"We grieve for what might have been, for joys unrealized, for tasks undone, for challenges unmet."
Dremmer was killed, and her 18-year-old U. of C. Lab School friends Julia Baird and Kaia Tammen were seriously injured last Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle driven by 86-year-old John Hillyard veered across the center line of a rural Downstate road and hit them head on.
Police said Hillyard may have passed out or fallen asleep, according to Saline County Coroner Randy Reed. Hillyard, of Downstate Enfield, was cited for improper lane usage. He does not face criminal charges, authorities said.
The three teens had planned the bicycling trip for weeks. Baird, who remains in critical condition, had posted on her Facebook page "3 friends, 3 bikes, 500 miles, let's do this."
As a little girl, living in an orphanage in China at age 2, Faith Dremmer was well past the age when anyone was likely to adopt her. She appeared destined for a hard life in China, mourners at the service were told.
But she found a home when an American woman, Michele Dremmer, traveled to the country. Speakers and others at the service told the tale of how Michele adopted Faith, brought her back to the United States, showered her with love and dedicated her life to raising her to be a well-educated, well-rounded young woman who gave back to society and stayed connected to her Chinese roots even as she was raised as a Jewish American.
Growing up, they said, Faith was exposed to many opportunities by her adoptive mom, a single parent. Faith played soccer, took classes on swimming, violin and China, and regularly attended a summer camp for girls. She also was active at her place of worship, Temple Sholom, Petuchowski said.
Faith and Michele were described as having a very unique and special bond. That was evident from Faith's own words, which Petuchowski shared from an essay Faith had written for a college application. The subject was name a person who has been a significant influence and tell how. Faith named her adoptive mother.
"My adoptive mother is the reason I have a good life," Petuchowski shared, as the wrenching sound of a mother's pain echoed through the nearly full synagogue. "She has given me a life of happiness, opportunity and of love. I am who I am because of all her devotion and love...If you ask me who my mother is I would say Michele Dremmer is my mother and will always be."
"Faith's life was so full even as it was so brief," Petuchowski said. "She had amassed more wisdom in her 17 years than many [do] in a lifetime."