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Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958
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50th Anniversary Mass & Reception

The ninety five white candles that will be lit in honor of the victims of the OLA fire, plus two red candles that will be lit in honor of the emergency responders and in honor of the survivors. The quilt made by Christine Anderson honoring the victims of the OLA fire. Every victims is represented by a square on the quilt. View of the beautiful altar of Holy Family Church, where the 50th Anniversary Mass was held on November 30, 2008. View of the sanctuary of Holy Family Church before the anniversary mass.
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The Royal Aires drum and bugle corps, who lost three members to the OLA fire, performed at the memorial mass.
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Matt Scharlau, who sang Ave Maria during the mass. Matt is the son of Carol Lambesis Scharlau, Class of 1964. Survivor Jonathan (Friga) Cain, songwriter and keyboardist with the band “Journey”, wrote a beautiful song specifically for the 50th Anniversary, and performed it during the service. He also distributed free CDs of his song, “The Day They Became Angels” to attendees. The song is also available for download on his website. Jim Grosso, who organized the music for the service.
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Betti Marino-Wasek, Acting President of FOLA (Friends of OLA).
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Class of '59<br><b>Note: Click image to enlarge in a new browser window</b> Class of '63<br><b>Note: Click image to enlarge in a new browser window</b> Class of '65<br><b>Note: Click image to enlarge in a new browser window</b> Unlit candles prior to the memorial mass. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau)
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This statue was dedicated to the victims of the OLA fire by the last graduating class of OLA, the class of 1999. It stood in a hallway at the “new” school for several years after the building was leased to Chicago Public Schools. In 2003, the statue was found covered up and ignored, so a group of volunteers, which included retired Chicago Firefighters, “rescued” the statue and moved to it's present location at Holy Family Church. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Linda Maffiola, founder and past president of Friends of OLA. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Knights of Columbus. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Bishop John R. Manz. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau)
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(Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) The now-lit candles following the reading of the names. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau)
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Chicago Fire Dapartment memorabilia displayed at the reception following the memorial mass. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Chicago Fire Dapartment memorabilia displayed at the reception following the memorial mass. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Chicago Fire Dapartment memorabilia displayed at the reception following the memorial mass. (Photo courtesy of Robin Rix and Carol Scharlau) Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Section 18, the final resting place for 25 of the child victims of the OLA fire. Date of photo: November 30, 2008.
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The monument erected in memory of the victims of the OLA fire. All 95 who perished are listed on the short blocks to the left and right. Statue of Mary (Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of the Angels) watches over the 25 child victims in Section 18 of Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Wider view of Section 18 Three quarters view of the monument.
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Inscription on base of the <i>Our Lady</i> statue reads: <i>IN DEVOUT MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE FIRE, DECEMBER 1, 1958, AT OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS SCHOOL. ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS, THE PRIESTS, THE SISTERS, AND THEIR PASTOR, THE RT. REV. MSGR. JOSEPH F. CUSSEN.</i> Inscription on right side of the <i>Our Lady</i> statue reads: <i>BEHOLD I WILL SEND MY ANGEL WHO WILL GO BEFORE THEM AND KEEP THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY AND BRING THEM INTO THE PLACE THAT I HAVE PREPARED. MAY THE CHOIR OF ANGELS RECEIVE THEM AND MAY THEY HAVE REST EVERLASTING. Inscription on left side of the <i>Our Lady</i> statue reads: <i>MAY THE ANGELS LEAD THEM INTO PARADISE. MEET THEM YOU ANGELS OF THE LORD. RECEIVE THEIR SOULS AND PRESENT THEM TO THE MOST HIGH. MAY CHRIST WHO CALLED THEM RECEIVE THEM AND MAY THE ANGELS LEAD THEM INTO THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM.</i> View of the Our Lady of the Angels memorial from the left.
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View of the Our Lady of the Angels memorial from the right. View of the Our Lady of the Angels memorial from the rear. In the middle of the Holy Innocents Section of the Queen of Heaven Cemetery is a statue of Christ surrounded by little children. This view is looking away from the OLA memorial, which about about fifty feet behind this location. View of the statue of Christ in the Holy Innocents Section of Queen of Heaven Cemetery. The OLA memorial can be seen in front of the little girl's face in the distance.
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The OLA memorial as seen from the statue of Christ in the Holy Innocents Section of Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Another view of the OLA memorial overlooking the final resting place for 25 of the OLA child victims. The memorial erected in front of the former rectory next to the OLA site. This is the only memorial at the actual site of the OLA fire.<br><b>Note: Click image to enlarge in a new browser window</b> Wider view of the memorial in front of the former rectory at 3808 W. Iowa.
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The building at left is the former rectory of the Our Lady of the Angels parish. At right is the former OLA church. Between the two, at bottom right, is the OLA memorial.
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