Taylor Louise Denson

AUBURN – Taylor Louise Denson, 12, of 69 N. Fulton St., died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, in the Upstate Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in a sledding accident on Wescott Reservoir in Syracuse. She was a life resident of Auburn and a student at East Middle School. She was a member of Trinity Assembly of God Church in Clay, and now a member of the Auburn Assembly of God Church on East Genesee Street Road, where she was active in MPACT Girls Ministry, working with the youth of her church. Taylor enjoyed fun times with her many friends and loved doing arts and crafts. Most of all, her first love was singing and dancing and enjoying her time with her caring family. She is survived by her parents, Timothy and Theresa Wenzel Denson; a sister, Tami; a brother, Trevor; and her paternal grandmother, Patricia Denson. Friends are invited to join the family 11 a.m. Saturday for services that will be conducted in the Auburn Alliance Church, North Seward Avenue, Auburn, with the Rev. Joshua M. Czyz officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours will be held 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, at the Cheche Funeral Home Inc., Auburn. This beautiful young lady”s parents and siblings were sure that because Taylor had so much love for life and people, that she would want to give of herself to help anyone. Because of this, in her death, Taylor donated her organs so that others may live. So they ask you now to kindly donate, in memory of Taylor, to Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, Corporate Woods of Brighton, Building 30, Suite 220, Rochester, NY 14623. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.

This sweat young child’s death has been on my mind for days. The last week has been agonizing. I can only imagine how the family feels. My daughter–a classmate–would come down the stairs crying, set off by a text message from one of her friends, saying “they took her off of life support,” and I felt so helpless and unprepared to deal with the situation. I’m mortified, having taken the kids sledding just a few days before, at the nature of Taylor’s death.

What I wont do is blame the city of Syracuse for not doing more than put up no sledding signs in the Wescott Reservoir. In fact there are no legal places to sled in the city of Syracuse. I wont blame the parents as some have done in the comments section of syracuse.com. I think that’s absolutely reprehensible. These things happen and it’s far beyond anyone to pass judgment. What we have to do, all we can do, is live and love.