Carpentersville officials joined family members Saturday morning in dedicating trees planted in Carpenter Park in the memory of three toddlers who died in a spring house fire.
Jayden Corsello, 2, and Xander Corsello, 1, were killed in the March 30 blaze at their home in the 1700 block of Kingston Circle in Carpentersville. Jayden’s twin brother, Kayden, died the following day at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
“May these trees stand in everlasting memory of Jayden, Cayden and Xander, whose light and laughter will forever live within the hearts of those who loved them,” a flyer for the dedication ceremony said.
Carpentersville Village President John Skillman, who spoke at the event, said the trees are a symbol of the young lives lost and an opportunity to see the autumn blaze maples grow tall “as we wish they had.”
The trees are located on the west side of Carpenter Park, off Lord Avenue. Each has a plaque placed beneath it that bears one of their names and the inscription, ”Too Precious for Earth.”
The Rev. Phil Zilinski, the village’s police chaplain who presided over the boys’ April 11 memorial service at his church, Fox Valley Baptist Church in East Dundee, said he hopes people take the time to pause and reflect when they see the trees.
Skillman said Zilinski and other community members have been doing what they can to help the family in the aftermath of the fire. The village’s social worker has assisted the family with making funeral arrangements and in other matters, he said, and he and other officials have remained in touch.
The boys’ mother, Josephine “Josie” Beauchane, said she was grateful for the town’s help and appreciated the trees being dedicated to her sons. Beauchane has been living with her parents at their home in Carpentersville since the fire.
“This support has been very helpful through difficult times,” said Mike Beauchane, the boys’ maternal grandfather. “We never expected this outpouring, which has been amazing. It would have been even harder for us without it.”
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
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