Dear editor:
First allow me to thank our friends, family and the ever-so-kind people who live my town and Matthew Wilson’s town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for their compassion. You are our hope heroes.
On Oct. 25 my husband John Franz and I visited the memorial for my son Matthew Wilson on Lakeshore Road.
We had painstakingly and lovingly decorated it for Halloween and that day we discovered someone had stolen the two orange smiley face metal pumpkins that once belonged to Matthew.
What kind of person steals from a monument, a tribute to honour a son, a brother, an uncle?
I’m not just angry, I’m hurt, my heart shattered into a million pieces again.
It’s hard enough to grieve Matthew’s death every minute of every day and now we know a thief without a conscience or a heart has desecrated this hallowed ground.
The memorial is at the spot where Matt took his last breath on Earth in 2021 after he was struck by a pickup truck driven by Robert Enns. Matt was not walking on the road, as confirmed by a witness to detectives.
Yes, it’s only two metal pumpkins, but this has triggered my relentless grief and broke my heart again because they didn’t care they were stealing something precious to me, to Matt and his family.
My husband John (Matt’s stepdad) says because we can no longer tell Matt how much we love him this memorial is the best way to show we care, like a beacon of love shining up to Matthew in heaven.
We place some of Matt’s favourite things at this site. To celebrate Matt’s life, we make certain the decorations reflect happiness and joy, not sadness.
This is sacred ground.
To whoever stole the pumpkins, I pray your conscience will guide you to replace them alongside Matt’s cross.
Unfortunately, again on Nov. 2 when John and I returned to remove the Halloween decorations we noticed one solar light top missing and one “Boo” sign also gone. That evening we replaced the stolen solar light top.
Then on Nov. 5 John noticed both solar lights and a solar flood light missing plus a couple of fall leaf bushes. It was the third time this memorial was vandalized.
Once again I am gutted with grief, anger, shock.
We decided to report this desecration to the police. We were advised that police stations in other cities and towns including Niagara, Ancaster, Hamilton are having the same issues, as it seems stealing from memorials and gravesites has become a trendy recreational activity for some people.
On Nov. 4, a 37-year-old, of no fixed address, someone known to police, who has a history of similar cemetery-theft offences in Niagara, Ancaster, Hamilton and other areas, was arrested in Niagara Falls.
Police in Hamilton checked to see if any of Matt’s items were found with this thief but at that time, they did not find any, but promised to keep me advised as they investigate further.
The kindness and caring given to us from others really helps John and I cope. We thank you for your loving support.
Colleen Franz
Virgil
