Jennifer Kern
Staff Writer

The last year has been incredibly difficult for the family of Sean Parenteau.

Last year, Sean was a senior at Forest Lake High School who was preparing to attend college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.

Described by his parents, Tina and Pat, as someone with a great personality who enjoyed music and spending time with friends, Sean was the last person they would have suspected to have had depression.

On April 26, 2004, he took his life.

From immense sadness to anger to guilt, the Parenteausí said that they have felt a variety of deep emotions since that day just over a year ago.

ìI donít know what we missed, what we could have seen,î mentioned Pat.

They describe that they didnít notice any signs from Sean that wouldíve flagged that he was having serious problems.

ìI talked to him about all different things,î noted Tina.

And although they continue to struggle with trying to understand what led to Seanís suicide, they have taken the past year to also look at how they can help prevent other families from experiencing the type of loss that they have had.

Remembering Sean and helping others

The Sean Parenteau Memorial Fund was recently established as a way for his family to keep Seanís memory alive as well as provide community awareness on the topic of suicide.

In lieu of cards or flowers, the family wanted to do something that provided more permanency.

ìWe wanted something that was going to last, because this kid was so cool,î said Seanís aunt Beth Lawrence.

ìSomething good out of something bad, thatís what weíre doing,î said Pat.

Since Seanís death, his parents and extended family have used the planning of the fund, which is non-profit, as a way to channel their loss into something positive.

Using their own interests, family members began organizing events for the fund. Being motorcycle enthusiasts, Tina and Pat set up a ride that will be held on June 4.

Lawrence and Seanís uncle Paul Parenteau, who both enjoy health and fitness activities, organized a 5k run/walk that will take place on June 18 at the Forest Lake High School.

ìWe all started out with what we know,î explained Pat, ìWe tried to get ourselves organized.î

The first development of the fund was the start-up of $1000 scholarships for two Forest Lake High School students. The scholarships are music-oriented to tailor to Seanís interests.

ìHe just loved (music),î described Beth.

The family hopes to also use the proceeds from their fundraisers to provide funding for teen suicide prevention projects and youth-oriented events in Forest Lake. They describe that the establishment of the fund is a learning process, but stress that the entire project has an underlying theme.

ìWhen it comes down to it, itís about (providing) an awareness,î said Pat, ìFor me, thatís the bottom line.î

Memorial events

A website has been established exclusively for the Sean Parenteau Memorial Fund and its upcoming events. For more information, visit www. teensliv.org

ï The first event will be held Saturday, June 4. A Casino Cruise motorcycle run will begin at Northland Mall in Forest Lake and continue to St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake, WI. Registration will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot at Northland Mall. The registration cost is $25, which includes a T-shirt.

ï On June 6, two music scholarships will be presented in Seanís memory to one young man and one young woman at Forest Lake High School.

ï A 5k run/walk will take place at Forest Lake High School on June 18. Preregistration will be held through June 6 for $18, which includes a t-shirt. Race day cost will be $25. Registration on race day will be held from 7 to 7:30 a.m. at the high school. Pre-registration can be found in the Forest Lake Times and the St. Croix Valley Peach, online at www.active.com or www.teensliv.org or can be called in at 651-464-3395.

ï Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the summer for a 1964 Dodge Dart Convertible, which will be given away on Sept. 18 at the Northern Lights Car Show at Blacksmiths Lounge in Hugo.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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