PORT ANGELES — A grieving mother who was helped by others is now offering her support to those who mourn their children.
When The Compassionate Friends members lighted candles Dec. 9 in memory of children who died, Lisa Smith participated in remembrance of her son, Frank Russo, who died in a skateboard fall in 2006.
Smith — known as Lisa Laidlaw until her recent marriage — is a new co-leader, with Ruthann Toney, of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of The Compassionate Friends.
She has stepped up from being one who needed others to being there for others.
“It’s a way to keep Frank alive for me,” Smith said. “It’s part of the journey. We’re there to remember our children, always.
“I’m at a point in my grief when I think it’s time for me to give back,” she added.
Smith’s 14-year old son died of head injuries June 16, 2006, after falling while skateboarding at the Port Angeles Skate Park.
Although he usually wore a helmet, he hadn’t that day, and his death inspired efforts to ensure skateboarders in both Port Angeles and Sequim have helmets available to them.
When Russo died the day after his fall, he left behind his mom and two brothers, Zach Armstrong, now 17, and Robert Taylor, 25.
In the days that followed, his mother found support from The Compassionate Friends.
“They were there for me in the beginning, those heart-wrenching days when you don’t know where to go or what to do,” Smith said.
She said the 60 to 80 members have little in common; they are from all walks of life and all lost their children under different circumstances.
“Unfortunately, we have that in common,” Smith said.
When longtime leaders decided to step down this fall, a small core group of members came forward to take the reins, Smith said.
“People get busy, lives start to move on. Life can’t stand still in one spot,” she said of the previous leadership team members.
In addition to Smith and Toney as co-leaders, Karen Dee was named treasurer, Chris White is hospitality coordinator, Linda Bruce is spokesman, Idona Baumann is newsletter editor, and Pat Jones is outreach coordinator.
Barb Thompson is returning as the meeting facilitator, the only member of the previous leadership group to serve now.
The group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
