Thanks for your Support

Originally posted April 25, 2026

Yesterday after a modest and lovely service, our family laid Zachary to rest.

Cassie Watson Francillon played the harp, as he lay quiet in his plaid shirt, adorned with marigolds and orange rose petals. As Cassie played “I’ll Fly Away”, the funeral directors slowly closed the casket and we sent him off: with his book marked where he had stopped reading; with his soccer uniform - ready for the demands of competitive play; with his fleece school jacket, a warm and gentle reminder to study; with his favorite Draco lizard, Pokémon cards and Pikachu stuffie; with pencils and eraser for drawing, the book of French lullabies he inherited from his brother, a blanket for bedtime and a sweet treat to keep him smiling along his journey.

I sit in gratitude and in awe, witnessing the expansive and diverse community from across the country and abroad - joining hearts - pouring love on, over and into us as we mourned Zachary’s passing. Your energy combined with the embrace of my ancestors and angels got me through this. I know and feel how deeply we are all loved. Plants, floral arrangements and money arrived anonymously. Still I see you and I thank you for your kindness.

And the miracles!

The casket that I wanted didn’t exist, but somehow despite what the order form said, the one I wanted was delivered. Arrangements were carried out the way I wanted them for my son, contrary to the way they were customarily done. A woman from a tax collector’s office in another parish tracked me down, called my new number, then sent me a handwritten note expressing her condolences, attached in front of my forwarded tax bill. That is both love and a message from my ancestors that they have my boy.

Thank you for the many blessings: kind thoughts, warm embraces, prayers, words of concern, honest and innocent vulnerability when your only words were “I just don’t know what to say, but you’re on my mind.” When my appetite returned, food was ready and waiting. Friends called and family traveled to lend a hand, to take things off my plate, and to hold me close.

This is fundamentally who we all are as a people.

I handwrite (and mail) thank notes. If you would be so kind as to message me with your physical address, I would be honored to send each of you an obituary card with a photo of Zachary enclosed.

And after today’s rest and reflection, I turn my attention to planning the “Children’s Celebration of Zach’s Life” scheduled on Saturday, May 2 at the Tate Etienne Prevost Center. We still have a gap to cover funeral and burial costs and like the support that we have received and miracles that I have witnessed, I have faith that the remaining money will come.

Love, Greta