Family gathers on one-year anniversary to remember loved one
- Jeanelle Mandes | July 03, 2014
"She was a beautiful and caring person who had a lot of family and friends," recalls Chelsea Stevenson of her sister, Chantelle Olive Dieter.
Stevenson organized a candlelight vigil in Regina to honour the memory of her sister. June 30 marked the one year anniversary of Dieter, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver. The candlelight vigil was held on the corner of Broad Street and Wascana Drive where Dieter died.
"We called her Olive bean, thats what everyone knew her as," she says. "I planned this because I wanted to bring our family together in support and hopefully bring some closure to the heartbreak and the sadness."
Although the weather was rainy and windy, that didn't stop people from showing up to support a sad yet worthy cause.
"Through my healing, I talked with elders for support. They really gave me that encouragement and talking with other people helped me heal," says stevenson.
The event opened with a prayer and everyone lit their candles with numerous vehicles passing by. The family took turns sharing memories of Dieter. Stevenson sang a song as a tribute to her late sister who left behind a little boy.
"I sang 'Dancing in the Sky' by Danni and Lizzy. It speaks about heaven and how they hope they're dancing in the sky."
Tim Dieter, the father of Dieter, says he feels honoured with the amount of support his family have received.
"For the past year I've never did nothing. I stayed home and mourned all year. Now, I'm not mourning anymore, I'm working now and it makes me stronger with what happened," he says.
Mark Stinson, the man who is responsible for Dieter's death, was under the influence and received a $1000 fine and his driver's license suspended for one year.
The family organized a rally last September in the city's downtown Victoria Park calling for the provincial courts to rethink the judge's decision. Although no progress was made, the family continues to stand strong together.
Jessica Dieter says it's important for her family to come together in support of her late cousin.
"This is celebrating her life and the memories she had and we need to make sure we keep that alive for her son," she says.
"This makes you think about the decisions we make every time we get behind the wheel because in an instant you can change someone's whole life and make somebody motherless."