A memorial for Eliza Talal, as seen during a candlelight vigil at Fischer's Park on Aug. 14, 2020.
A Towamencin tragedy from last August has blossomed into an everlasting memorial butterfly garden at Fischer’s Park, funded via a private donation.
Eliza Talal, 5, was washed away in floodwaters due to Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4, 2020, and her body was found the next day in Fischer’s Park. Now, in remembrance of her, resident Kelly Bertolazzi and her son, Andrew, a civil and environmental engineer, along with volunteers and township officials, have encapsulated the spirit and memory of Talal in the memorial garden, located near the Meadow View Pavilion, according to Towamencin Township’s Fall Newsletter.
The Bertolazzis were inspired to continue preserving Talal’s memory after her vigil, “but thought the usual offerings at the park, memorial trees/benches, may not meet the moment,” per the newsletter.
In August 2020, the township Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee unanimously endorsed the memorial butterfly garden proposal, and according to township meeting minutes from the board of supervisors Oct. 14, 2020 work session, “agreed that a garden focused on butterflies would not only be an appropriate memorial for Eliza, but would also reinforce the environmental benefits of establishing a habitat for bees and other insects.”
Kelly Bertolazzi told supervisors at that meeting the reason for making a butterfly garden:
“Why a butterfly garden? One of
the volunteers, on the morning Eliza was found, was with a group of women. They
were about to leave, they were just getting tired, everyone had been looking
all night and were getting pretty hopeless. She noticed a butterfly, and she
decided to just follow the butterfly. And the butterfly led her to Eliza, who
was lying under a dogwood tree.”
“We felt like it was just very, very symbolic, and we felt we wanted to do
something to honor her memory.”
The initial estimated $21,000 concept presented to supervisors at the Oct. 14, 2020, meeting showed a 796-square-foot plot with a stone wall and two benches, near the creek. According to meeting minutes, Supervisor Rich Marino found the memorial “thoughtful and fitting,” and Supervisor Laura Smith said the memorial “would go a long way to bring the community together.” Smith also suggested a fundraising effort be in place as a capital component for funding, according to the minutes. Supervisors Dan Littley and Daniel Bell expressed concerns over overflowing of the creek in the memorial area, with Bell “stressing the importance to support and memorialize Eliza by beautifying the park.”
Fast forward to June 23, 2021, when the Bertolazzis updated
supervisors on the renewed concept, which moved the memorial to an alternate
location away from flooding, per
meeting minutes. A private donor funded the garden with a $10,600 donation.
At that meeting, Littley suggested signage for the memorial and Smith suggested
something describing the significance “that told Eliza’s story.”
The Bertolazzis acquired necessary reviews and permits, and with help of
landscaper Lee Terry, the concept was brought to life with a half-moon style
sitting area, garden wall and paver pathway, per the newsletter.
The Bertolazzis, Terry and volunteers unveiled the memorial garden in August 2021 to coincide with the anniversary of Talal’s passing.
See also:
Candlelight Vigil Held for Eliza Talal, Who Died During Tropical Storm Isaias
Overnight Search For Missing Autistic Girl Turns Up Empty, Search Efforts Continue Wednesday
Police Provide Update On Autistic Girl Who Went Missing During Tropical Storm Isaias
Police Searching For Missing Girl With Special Needs In Towamencin
Photos: Tropical Storm Isaias Causes Widespread Flooding Across North Penn Area
