Pumpkin donations keeping Daniel Ethier’s memory alive.
When you drive past the home of Roch Ethier and see more than 80 pumpkins covering his lawn you may think he’s a Halloween fanatic, but the truth goes much deeper than that.
The pumpkins are a tribute to Ethier’s son Daniel who died of cancer last summer. Daniel’s favorite time of the year was Halloween and particularly enjoyed carving pumpkins. Last year Ethier started a blog to help cope with the loss of his son and this is where the idea for the tribute started.
“Last Halloween was our first Halloween without Daniel so I just innocently asked, ‘Whose going to carve my pumpkins’?” said Ethier. “On my blog I said ‘Would you bring a pumpkin for Daniel?’ Not expecting it to morph into this, I got 139 pumpkins last year.”
This year is shaping up to be just as good, if not better. The Ethier family has received over 80 pumpkins so far and more are expected to arrive before Halloween.
Although the pumpkin donations started out as a memorial for Daniel they mean much more than that this year.
“These pumpkins aren’t just for Daniel,” said Ethier. “But also for other parents who have lost kids. Some of which have brought pumpkins to represent their children.”
“We’re collectively healing through these pumpkins.”
Cutline: WINDSOR, ONT (23/10/2014). Roch Ethier and his two 400lb pumpkins that were given to him in memory of his son Daniel. Ethier has received over 80 pumpkins so far this year and the two biggest are going to be carved into Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Photo By Matt Recker
Ethier has had strangers from all around Windsor show up on his doorstep bearing pumpkins, some carved in the traditional manner and some bearing the names of the children they represent.
“I’m bringing a pumpkin here in honor of my daughter Shelley Harkins,” said Lynn Saatchi who dropped off a carved pumpkin on Thursday, Oct. 23. “This is a great tribute who have lost their children, because there’s nothing harder than losing a child.”
In addition to the more than 80 regular sized pumpkins adorning Ethier’s lawn two massive ones sit as the centerpiece. Ethier grew the pumpkins, each weighing over 400lbs, from seeds that came from a pumpkin even larger than these. They are going to be carved into Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head
The Ethier family will be accepting carved pumpkins every day leading up to Halloween. If you want to donate one you can bring it 1833 Lesperance Rd. in Tecumseh.
Get Social!
