Statement from Terri Rousseau, Mother of Lauren Rousseau, on Behalf of Family

Shari Speer December 16, 2012 at 11:53 pm

Haven't stopped crying since Friday.... G-d bless Lauren and all the victims killed on that horrific day. RIP Angels.

Phyllis Palin December 17, 2012 at 12:07 am

My heart, prayers and thoughts go out to the entire community. These beautiful individuals who were all so very brave and had their lives taken away from them. The thought of what everyone in your community is enduring right now continues to bring tears to my eyes. I wish so much I can take away the pain. If I knew that I could, I would do it so very quickly. The stars are sun are shining upon you.
Phyllis Palin Los Angeles, California

Mary Jean Higgins December 17, 2012 at 12:07 am

My sincerest sympathy to you and all your family. You raised a beautiful, smart and brave daughter. God bless you.

diana lasater December 17, 2012 at 12:15 am

Dear Family, I cant imagine the heart break that you feel at this moment and will feel in the days to come. as our minister said today in his sermon, these little lives were shining little lights as in the song" this little light of mine" and they will shine now for Jesus forever in their heavenly homes. May all of you feel Gods grace and unending love for you.

Jackie Fogle December 17, 2012 at 12:25 am

You must be so proud of your daughter. What a true hero. She is a beautiful person and was so brave during such a scary time. I have a daughter who is 25 and I can not begin to imagine what you must be feeling right now. Your family is in my prayers and your daughter is an eternal angel whose light will always shine.

Mary December 17, 2012 at 12:32 am

There is no way that I can comprehend your pain but I join with so many others who embrace you at this most painful time.......... in my prayers & hope for your comfort!

LaDonna Hatfield December 17, 2012 at 12:34 am

I am sure that your daughter's students loved her so much and were willing to work very hard to receive one of her wonderful smiles. As we all grieve with your community, please know that we send our love and pray for your comfort. I'm sure your daughter gathered those children around her in their walk to Heaven's gate, caring for them still on the other side of this life.
LaDonna Hatfield Retired Teacher from WV Mt. Carmel TN

Mona Bogart December 17, 2012 at 12:46 am

My heart aches for you & your family. I know the pain you are feeling, as I know what it's like to lose a child. I will continue to pray for you & yours. Your daughter's students, were blessed to be able to call her "their teacher." May God bless you & comfort you in the days to come.

Lorri S December 17, 2012 at 12:54 am

As a teacher I thank Lauren for being an excellent example of our profession. She took our duty to be "en loco parentis" (in the place of the parent) to heart. I'm sure she would say that kids on the autism spectrum, Aspbergers included, should be held as close if not closer than others today. Thank you, Lauren. <3

Heidy Herrera December 17, 2012 at 12:54 am

My prayers are with you and you're daughter is a hero!! She will always be in our heart. God bless!!

annp December 17, 2012 at 01:38 am

i do not know your family or your daughter, but you are all in my prayers. The only hope is that the memories of your pecious daughter will console you and that God gives you strength to endure this horrifiic act of evil.

Jack DiGiorgio December 17, 2012 at 01:44 am

Thank you Sharon for having shared your story. YES, these liberterians have forced our government, schools and public places not to show God's figure and when tragic events like these happens we all ask "where was God when that maniac was shooting?"...! We all need to fight and put back God in schools.

Anonymous December 17, 2012 at 01:50 am

I went to Danbury High School with Lauren Rousseau, and I was completely shocked and extremely saddened that such a nice, kind, respectable young lady such as Lauren was among the victims. Even though it's been 12 years since the last time I had seen her in some of my classes @ Danbury High School, I had always remembered Lauren to be a very gentle, soft-spoken, and cheerful young lady. She was very passionate about acting & theatre, and I remember how eager and spirited she was in the Danbury High School plays. Lauren: you left us way too soon, but at least you (in spirit) as well as your family can take solace in the fact that you achieved your lifelong dreams, which not everyone on this planet Earth is able to do. To Lauren's family: just know that your beloved daughter is one of Heaven's newest angels, and she will be smiling down on you (& the rest of us) for years and years to come. God Bless you Lauren, as well as your family during this very terrible & tragic time, and may God Bless all of the other victims and their families as well.

LynneB December 17, 2012 at 02:00 am

Asperger's Syndrome is NOT a mental illness! This monster just happened to have it. My son has Asperger's and you could not meet a more gentle, loving person. Please educate yourselves before saying things that are simply not true. There is NO connection between Asperger's and violonce.

Bob December 17, 2012 at 03:27 am

I wish I could reach out and wrap my arms around the whole community to ease their pain and suffering in their time of need. We have never met but just wanted you to know that the whole community is in my thoughts and prayers.

Jacqueline Neufer December 17, 2012 at 03:30 am

You have a beautiful daughter. Hold on to the memories. We pray for you and Lauren. God will give you strength.

Lori December 17, 2012 at 04:26 am

Your beautiful daughter was truly a hero, and my sincere condolences go out to you and your family at this difficult time. Lauren will not be forgotten..God Bless!

Virginia Pollack December 17, 2012 at 04:48 am

My 28-year old daughter is also a first grade teacher. I am praying that somehow, someday, you and yours find peace. I'm so, so sorry...

Rich December 17, 2012 at 05:43 am

My prayer for all the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy is that they look inward toward each other and hold and comfort each other, now and down the road. So often these types of tragedies can lead couples to grow apart as they cannot let go of the loss. Sometimes they blame themselves, and sometimes they blame each other. The grief can eat away at you and it is so important to talk and keep open the lines of communication. While all of us who are not directly affected by this will feel sad and sorrow for those who lost loved ones, we can't even come close to imagining how these people feel. In a few weeks or months we will forget about it for the most part, but these people will just be in the early stages of their grief. At six months, and even up until a year out, the grief will actually get progressively worse. This is when these people need all the love and understanding they can get. This is when many families fall apart. So I pray that they are able to find the strength to comfort each other in the long run.

Robin December 17, 2012 at 05:45 am

My own daughter is exactly the age of this beautiful young woman. My heart goes to you in this horrible time. Thank God that she was living her passion and loving her work. Do not fear, God has a great plan for her in his blessed home.

Laura Ellen Waymire Buckner December 17, 2012 at 02:50 pm

May you find some semblance of solace in that your beautiful daughter accompanied those 20 sweet angels into Heaven. She will always be with them as they will forever be with her. Lauren, along with her colleagues, are able to continue to love those babies and she will continue to be the teacher she dreamed of being in life. I find comfort in knowing this. The nation, the world and I share in your heartbreak and pain and although I understand it is in no way compared to the grief and pain you are enduring, I pray you are able to find comfort and warmth in knowing they are all together, as well. I know you did not want Lauren to leave you, but I hope you may also find a peacefulness in knowing that not only are they together, but that they will all be celebrating Christmas with the Angels and our Heavenly Father. And, I imagine it will be a very beautiful Christmas in Heaven this year. My heart goes out to you Terri and even though we don't know each other, I hope you are able to draw strength from realizing my thoughts, prayers and love will be with you for a very long.

Debbie December 17, 2012 at 03:16 pm

Your daughter was truly a very special hero. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family . My 29 year old daughter is a first grade teacher and loves her kids like they are her own. We hope you are able to find strength from each other and those around you.

Chris Freeman December 17, 2012 at 03:34 pm

Having worked as a substitute teacher for five years and just this year, finally getting the full time teaching job I've dreamed of, just like Lauren, I was saddened to hear what happened to. I can relate to the joy she must have felt landing that first full time job and can only hope I would have the same courage she had in the face of that danger. Your daughter will be my inspiration for the rest of my life each and everyday I walk into my classroom and realize how lucky I am to be doing what your daughter loved. Lauren was a hero that day but will be for many days to come for the selfless acts she took that day but I would guess, for so many kids everyday she was in a classroom with students. I am sure she is now teaching a room full of angels and doing what she obviously loved. May God bless her and all of the other victims and know she'll be remembered by many-including myself. I hope your hearts heal and the memories of these past days be replaced by the happy ones of times you shared with Lauren.

Kathy McGarry December 17, 2012 at 05:10 pm

Terri & Gilles,
So sorry for your loss. All of the members of the CT Professional Photographers Association offer their heartfelt condolences. If there is anything that we can do to help you and your family through this please let us know. Kathy McGarry

DrGrace J. Gniazdowska PsyD PhD December 18, 2012 at 02:46 am

I am offering free private grief counseling to the families of victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Please contact me. drgraceg@sensualmentality.com or you may speak with me on yahoo chat graceg1971a I am free to come to your home (like Dr. Hank does on Royal Pains) or you may come to me. I am in Trumbull. Please contact me for information. Dr Grace

Marni Parker December 18, 2012 at 04:03 am

To the dear family of this beautiful young woman Lauren Rousseau. Please know that this horrific story has touched us all over the world. I write from Canada, where I have shed tears for all of the victims and families. Please know that we all have you in our hearts, prayers, and wish that if there was anything we could do to help we would. When the calm sets in after this tragedy, I can personally tell you I will see the picture of your daughter and the other victims and know that we will always remember. We will not forget, nor will the families of all the people Lauren touched in her short life. May God grant you some peace..... somehow.......my love and heart goes to you all.....Marni in Canada

Lois Imbriano Barber December 18, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Please take comfort in the outpouring of love and support from our community, the nation, and the world.
Words can never express our deep sorrow...

Dominique Coquelet December 18, 2012 at 09:02 pm

Je vous adresse mes sincères condoléances. Je suis très touchée par l'acte de bravoure de votre fille. Qu'elle repose en paix auprès de ses petits élèves et que vous puissiez à votre tour trouver le repos et la paix de l'âme.

Maureen Thistle December 18, 2012 at 11:37 pm

I express my deepest condolences and I hope knowing that your beautiful daughter was a hero provides at least a little comfort at this difficult time. Please know that the nation and the world grieve with you. God Bless and R.I.P. Lauren
Maureen Thistle

Mark McCusker December 20, 2012 at 02:11 pm

Our hearts and prayers go out to all affected by this senseless tragedy. Two things come to mind; the first is that the media and all others need to go home now and leave us to move on with life in OUR TOWN. Go home to your families and leave us to ours to celebrate Christmas and heal. Second, our leaders need to begin dealing with the nations problems in a constructive, non-divisive way. The best suggestion I have heard came from one of the SHES teachers who CHALLENGED them and all of us to dialogue with each other as though those 20 angels were in the room to listen! In this way it is hoped that they will do so with respect.
Mark McCusker] Sandy Hook resident for over 25 years.