by Dennis Dalman
The “Angel of Hope” statue that will grace a place of meditation on the edge of Lake Frances has been ordered.
The angel statue’s base will list the names of area children who died far too young and tragically, such as Brianna Kruzel of Sartell. Brianna’s mother, friends and supporters began the Angel of Hope project after hearing about how Angel of Hope locations in other cities have brought solace and a measure of peace to grieving parents, relatives and friends of children.
Tami Kruzel, Brianna’s mother, ordered the angel statue on March 21, on what would have been Brianna’s 21st birthday. Brianna died suddenly and unexpectedly, collapsing in her bedroom on Sept. 28, 2013.
“Sartell has lost so many children recently,” Kruzel told the city council.
She thanks the city council and others who supported the Angel of Hope project. She particularly thanked CentraCare for its contributions. The goal of the fundraising for the Angel of Hope was $14,500. Kruzel said they managed to raise more than that – $17,100 – enough to order the statue.
Lake Frances is the holding pond in south Sartell. Once the angel is installed this spring or summer, the Sartell Newsleader will do a full feature story about the monument.