In memoriam…

Remembering Amy Headley

By Marisa Kratochvil
Editor-in-Chief

As the white table cloth hung over the wooden table adorned with candles, a golden cross and a single red rose, those who knew and loved Amy Headley assembled to remember her spirit.

Tragically, Amy’s life was taken after she was involved in a car accident Tuesday, March 14 in Galesburg.

“Amy was a steady and bright presence,” stated Anne Mamary, assistant professor who taught Amy’s ethics course last semester, during her memorial service Monday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Dahl Chapel and Auditorium.

Amy, a sophomore English major, was involved in French Club, Art Club and AFS. She was also a resident of Grier Hall.

During the service, words of kindness were spoken of Amy as bagpipes played and those present listened to hymns and scriptures about love.

President Mauri Ditzler greeted the audience and spoke of Amy’s confidence in eternal life.

He concluded his address by saying, “…a bit of us resides with Amy in the spiritual world.”

During the meditation portion of the service, the Rev. Dr. B. Kathleen Fannin, Chaplain, commented Amy revealed to her father that she wanted to be an organ donor.

As a result of her kindness, Amy will now help 60 people through organ donation because of her generous spirit, she added.

Associate Professor of English and Amy’s advisor, Mark Willhardt, remembered Amy and the times they shared.

“Amy made me laugh,” he said. “She’d look at you sideways…her smile became full, bright [and] she smiled with her voice, her eyes.”

He also described her as a “mellow” person who was “smart and engaged.”

Fannin concluded the service by saying, “Amy is alright, and one day we shall say ‘Hello’ again.”

In addition, residents of Grier Hall put together a banner and large card for her family to show their support and condolences.

“Amy was an amazingly sweet and intelligent young woman. The girls of Grier Hall remember and miss her smile and kind nature. She is a Grier Angel and will be missed dearly,” commented Elizabeth Hudnall, head resident of Grier Hall.

“Death is always difficult when it occurs within a close-knit community like Monmouth, but especially tragic when it comes suddenly and involves a person so young,” said Jacquelyn Condon, vice president for student affairs.

It was the purpose of this memorial service to bring the MC community together to grieve and remember Amy’s life.

Willhardt added, “Those gentle, chuckling passing remarks, the small moments where she’d flop into a chair and catch me up on her life, are going to be sorely missed.”

She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Headley, and her brother Matthew, a student at Bradley University.