MADISON — Recently the Our Lady Queen of Peace (QP) School Class of 2020 in Madison came together in remembrance of one of their classmates who died from cancer last spring.
The Class of 2020 is known for its resiliency at QP.
During their eighth grade year of school, classmate Mae Mae Dunn was diagnosed with cancer.
Just as they were all praying and coping with the news, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and they were sent home to finish out their eighth grade year virtually.
Never really getting to say goodbye or have closure on their many years at QP, they were invited back this fall for a reunion and the opportunity to come together again.
The reunion was bittersweet but Mae Mae was there in spirit as the class, along with QP Parochial Administrator Msgr. Larry Bakke, had a prayer vigil in the newly landscaped area that will be dedicated to Mae Mae this coming spring.
The new area will have a garden full of flowers and a bench carved with Mae Mae’s journal entries.
The class of 2020 was also able to complete a QP tradition by signing the class mural.
Each year, the graduating class paints a mural on a wall somewhere in the school, and the entire class signs it.
Since the lockdown, the students were not able to be inside the building to complete this tradition.
With faith being first and foremost at QP, the class of 2020 attended Mass together and received a special blessing from Monsignor Bakke.
The event concluded with dinner and social time.