N.J. family killed in Buffalo plane crash remembered

by truthseeker 3 Replies latest jw friends

  • truthseeker
    truthseeker

    http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/new_jersey_family_killed_in_bu.html

    N.J. family killed in Buffalo plane crash remembered

    by Nyier Abdou and Brian T. Murray/ The Star-Ledger Saturday February 28, 2009, 9:18 PM

    More than 1,500 people gathered at the Jersey City Assembly Hall of Jehovah's earlier tonight to remember a Bloomfield family killed two weeks ago when Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed in a Buffalo, N.Y. suburb, killing all 49 people aboard and one man on the ground.

    Donald and Dawn Mossop, their 12-year-old son, Shawn, and Dawn Mossop's 44-year-old sister, Ferris Reid, were remembered as an inseparable, loving family who relished traveling together, eating well together and worshipping together at their Jehovah's Witness congregation in Montclair. The sisters, who had 12 other siblings, also were celebrated for their faith and their dedication to their ministry.

    Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger The program for the memorial service for the Mossop family Saturday at the Jersey City Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Donald Mossop, his wife Dawn and their son, Shawn along with Ferris Reid, Dawn's sister, died in the Continental plane crash in Buffalo, New York.

    "These sisters shared their lives in an incredible realm of love. Where you saw one, you were bound to see the others," said Keith Frierson, the assembly's circuit overseer and chairman.

    The memorial was held at the historic, former Stanley Theater near the PATH station in Journal Square, which was restored by thousands of Jehovah's volunteers.

    Donald and Dawn Mossop, both natives of Jamaica, were married in 1991 and shared their home with Reid. In a funeral discourse, David Iannelli, a religious leader who is one of the district's overseers, relayed memories told by family and friends, highlighting their strong faith.

    Donald, known as "Danny," was a good listener who was always ready and willing to help others, he said. Iannelli said Donald also was handy--and that his mother remembered him taking clocks off the wall as a young boy to take them apart and figure out how to put them together.

    Dawn was close with all of her sisters, each one prone to staying up late talking and making shopping trips they called "retail therapy." Co-workers voted Dawn best dressed in their division at Schering Plough. She also loved to cook, and relentlessly pursued new recipes.

    Shawn Mossop, born in 1996, was known for his remarkably compelling bible readings and his mental catalogue of the nation's roller coasters, which he loved, according to friends and family.

    The plane crashed after taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport and approaching Buffalo.

  • ex-nj-jw
    ex-nj-jw
    thousands of Jehovah's volunteers

    That just struck me as funny

    I hope their funeral wasn't as boring and impersonal as the one I attended this past weekend.

    nj

  • truthseeker
    truthseeker

    It is a tragedy whatever their belief. An entire family wiped out.

  • shadow
    shadow

    It is a tragedy.

    However, I find it strange that it was held at the Stanley. Did WT leaders seize on this as a photo-op???

    Also curious is that Ianelli gave the funeral talk. He was sent to Florida in 2002 to give another high-profile talk for a JW firefighter. That funeral included walking the casket through a cordon of saluting firemen. They also bend the rules to humanize the talk by actually (horrors!) talking about the deceased.

    Another example of the cynical nature of WT leadership??? They sure compromise on funerals that get a lot of public attention.

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