Penrose community rallies to support families with vigil amid funeral home investigation
PENROSE, Colo, (KRDO) - The Penrose community is showing its resilience amid the investigation into a funeral home after more than 115 bodies were discovered improperly stored inside a building by helping the grieving families.
A board meeting was held earlier Thursday by the Parks and Recreation Office to approve the costs for a candlelight vigil. However, it was determined during the meeting that no extra funds were needed. Rather, everything needed will be taken care of by volunteers or paid for by community members.
The Fremont County 4H chapter and the Fremont County Conservation District have also teamed up with Brady's, a nursery in Cañon City to donate 130 saplings of Colorado Blue Spruce trees to give those grieving families something to honor their loved ones.
Hundreds are expected to attend the vigil, which is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 14. Organizers hope this will help those left to deal with the months-long expected investigation into what happened at Return to Nature Funeral Home that led to their loved ones left decomposing.
Lacy Baker, the President of the Penrose Parks and Recreation Board, said this difficult investigation has hit the whole Penrose community hard.
"We are just as shocked as everybody else. but we will do what we can to stand with the families that are going through this," said Baker.
Alberto Rodriguez, who is a Penrose native, will be providing DJ services, along with photography and videography services for no cost.
He says growing up in his grandfathers house just across the street from where the multi-agency investigation has now taken over the former funeral home, motivates him to want to make a difference.
"Instead of it being such a dark and troublesome time, it will be a time of togetherness and community." explained Rodriguez, who goes by DJ Youngblood with Della Vista Productions.
"These people were promised something, and that promise deserves to be fulfilled. It is so heartbreaking to me -- and to have a tangible item to be able to, you know, being that everybody grieves in their own process and everything. So to be able to do that and work with them was amazing." added Rodriguez about the donation of the saplings.
There will be food, drinks, candles, music, and a line-up of speakers including prominent local law enforcement and elected officials in Fremont County for the vigil.
Families who want to submit a message for Rodriguez to read, or have a song request to play in honor of a lost loved one -- are asked to reach out to his Facebook page through this link.
The event will happen on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. at 401 Park Place, Penrose CO.
Organizers said all are welcome. They hope this will shine some light on the current dark times in Fremont County.
