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Friends pitch in to help family that lost 18-year-old in accident
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It’s in life’s darkest moments that a little light can seem extraordinary.
When news of 18-year-old Sydni Yoshie Rounds’ death spread Saturday, life seemed to be crashing in around her family and friends.
While life is far from complete again for her loved ones, a few members of the community have stepped forward in the past four days to help pick up the pieces.
Family friend Leslie Lehmann established the “Sydni Yoshie Rounds Memorial Fund” on Tuesday at the Bank of Naples.
“I’m certainly hoping it’s going to help with some of the associated funeral home expenses, because no one ever expects to have to bury their children,” said Lehmann, who has known the family for a decade through the cheerleading gym she owns.
Sydni, a Palmetto Ridge High School graduate, was killed Saturday when a pickup truck crossed a raised median on Golden Gate Boulevard and struck her Honda Civic head-on.
Lehmann said her primary concern was helping Sydni Rounds’ mother, Dani Rounds, who owns her own house-cleaning business. Like any other self-employed parent in today’s economy, Lehmann said, it is a tall order to ask a parent to go it alone on such an unexpected expense.
“I’ve been intertwined with this family since (Sydni’s older sister) Cierra was 10 years old, and my heart is just breaking for them,” Lehmann said. “I’ve seen enough death from these young people that have so much to live for, and I want to do what I can to help the family.”
Lehmann is one of many people who have stepped forward in recent days to offer comfort and assistance to the family.
Another acquaintance, Kimberly Miller, offered the family a free burial plot at Palm Royale Cemetery in Golden Gate Estates. Miller said her daughter, Alexandra, was a friend of Sydni’s, and she simply wanted to reach out to the family in their time of grief.
The Rounds family, though thankful for the offer, declined, Lehmann said Tuesday. Sydni Rounds will be placed in a family plot in Houston, Texas. Her father, Cochise Rounds, lives in that city.
Members of the family couldn’t be reached Tuesday for comment.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the memorial fund can send money to Bank of Naples, 11515 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 109, Bonita Springs, 34135. Bank officials asked that the account number be included: 22121676. Questions can be directed to Kim Williams at Bank of Naples, at (239) 498-7264.
A memorial service for Sydni Yoshie Rounds will be held Wednesday at 12:30 in the chapel at First Baptist Church Naples, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, off Livingston Road.
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What a nice story, no wonder there arent any comments here.
God bless you guys for helping this family.
being someone who lost a family member very suddenly, i can tell you it is ROUGH
#1 Posted by NeezDutz on July 2, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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