On April 16, 2007, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher was taken from us during the shootings at Virginia Tech. We take this opportunity to thank our friends, neighbors, students, colleagues, and government officials from near and far. Your sympathy and kindness helped carry us through these darkest hours and have been a source of strength in knowing that Jocelyne touched many lives.

We are at a loss for words to express how grateful we are to the many individuals who reached out to us. The Red Cross made it possible for us to come together as a family by providing plane tickets from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta to Virginia for Jocelyne’s family. It was comforting for her mother, siblings, cousins, and nieces to see the town Jocelyne called home and to become acquainted with the many students and friends who so loved and respected her.

We deeply appreciate your generous support of an educational trust fund for Sylvie and the endowment funds set up at Virginia Tech. One endowment will recognize Jocelyne with a named French language scholarship through the Foreign Languages department at Virginia Tech, where she taught; the second will honor her other passion, gardening, and establish a memorial garden at the university’s Hahn Horticulture Garden.

We take comfort in knowing that Jocelyne’s joie de vivre and effervescence will not be forgotten. We are grateful to be part of a community that cares.

Thank you and merci bien for your kindness and sympathy.

Jerzy Nowak
Sylvie Couture-Nowak
Francine Dulong