This was written by Coby Mallet, friend and classmate of Lauren. It meant so much to us for him to have written and delivered such a beautiful eulogy at her funeral.
Lauren Elizabeth Rodney will be missed dearly by many people. So many people have been very fortunate to know and love Lauren. She was a very special person. Her radiance and shining smile was just her nature. Bringing people up from being downhearted was her specialty. That smile of hers could penetrate through the thickest sadness and bring back to life the most broken of hearts. Lauren and depressed were two words that were NEVER in the same sentence. Always happy, a genuine free-spirited teenage girl. Without a doubt, she is in Heaven now. We only dream of what Heaven is like; Lauren knows what it’s like and loves it there.
This past Friday, the Friday the accident occurred, Lauren and myself made plans to go to a Lafayette Mardi Gras Parade that is scheduled for today. She told me that when she would go into work after school she would request not to work on Monday. I texted Lauren after her shift and she had told me that her request was granted, that we would be going to the parade. We were both so excited. Spending the day in Lafayette together was something we had done in the past and it is what I think about quite often when I think of Lauren. Instead of going to a parade with Lauren, I still get to be with her, but in a different way, a way I would not have chosen, not in a million years. Being able to see my Lauren one last time will be the hardest moment I have to face during my lifetime, but at the same time, it will be the most cherished. I will always have a big portion of my heart just for Lauren. I will always love her with all that I’ve got.
This sudden change of not having Lauren around is going to truly be difficult. We have to realize that she wouldn’t want us to be mourning about this. Sure, she knows we are sad, but she wants us to look past the sadness and remember her for the positive impact she has made on all of our lives. Let’s remember to be strong, let’s support each other in our time of need. We are all in this together.
Coby Mallet
Feb 23, 2009