GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A 9-year-old Green Bay girl will be remembered today by her family and the community following her tragic death.
Rose Hendricks was killed after a tree in the front yard of a Blithe Street home fell on her during last Monday night’s storms.
A memorial of flowers and mementos now sits on the stump of the tree that was pinned on Hendricks for approximately 8-10 minutes. She was with her older brother, Jason, and her grandmother when the tragedy struck.
“She was skipping down [the street], you know, her normal self. She loved to be giggling, goofy. She was skipping back, my mom said, and that’s just when the tree collided and just fell right on top of her,” said Jayme DeNamur, Hendricks’ mom.
Neighbors rushed outside to try and help get the tree off of the girl.
According to DeNamur, “It wasn’t budging, so I believe the neighbor right over here grabbed his car jack. He was able to get the tree up and the paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and were able to get her out from underneath.”
Hendricks was then rushed to the hospital. Her mom said that Rose, her little miracle baby who was born with collapsed lungs, fought hard for six hours Monday night before she passed.
Hendricks had suffered multiple fractures to her face and skull and had brain swelling, along with injuries to her lungs and heart.
“When I found out she had stopped breathing, it felt like the end of the world for me. She was everything,” said DeNamur.
Outgoing, smart, girly but also sporty, Hendricks’ mom called her daughter “artsy fartsy.” She said Rose was kind and comforting to others, especially her brother, who has epilepsy.
“She was funny and she made me and my cousin laugh all the time. And she loves Pokémon and she had a whole collection of cards. And she loved going on walks with us,” said Jason DeNamur, Hendricks’ brother.
Hendricks’ family is finding comfort in the kindness of the community, and it’s helping them cope with the unimaginable.
“I just want people to know and not to forget her, because she was an amazing little girl and she deserves everything and more. She was one in a million and she deserves it all,” DeNamur said.
A celebration of life for Rose Hendricks will be at Blaney Funeral Home from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 30. The public is welcome to attend.
