Chase would have made a terrific big brother.  He will always be a Big Brother now he just needs to watch over his big brother and his new sister Madeline.  Our family will never be the same without Chase and who knows maybe he wouldn't have been a big brother but now he is.  Watch over your older brother and your new sister and protect both of them Chase.

For those of you that never got the chance to meet this beautiful angel he was the life of the party.  Whenever you were having a bad day you just had to take one look at Chase and all your problems would go away.  His beautiful smile and big bear hugs were the best.  



Our beautiful baby boy was born on November 5, 2003 and passed away at the tender age of 2 1/2 on July 27, 2006 due to accidental drowning.  We will never forget the worst day of our lives.  We had just gotten home from Speech and then Mom's work and Chase wanted to play outside on his big wheel.  Mom picked him up told him no and brought him in the house so he could take a nap.  Mom put Chase down on the couch right in front of the window where I could see him and ran out to the car to bring the bags of items we got from the store after Speech earlier that morning.  Chase came out the front door.  I told him to stop and he stood there for a minute and then he kept going.  He stopped when he got by the corner of the house, turned back and smiled as to say goodbye and kept going.  Chase had ran around the back before so we just thought he was playing on his playset but when I couldn't find him the authorities were contacted.  We live 300 yards, a full football field away from the Fox River and the boys never went down there.  Chase must have turned towards the river because when Mom got to the back yard he was no where to be found.  Mom started calling out Chase's name and was frantic and couldn't find him anywhere.  When the authorities were called they had no indication that is what I was told that Chase would go to the river so the Fire Department wasn't called until an hour after the police got there, eventhough we lived near the river.  The wonderful paramedics entered the water and found our little boy right away at 3:30 p.m.  Chase was taken to Provena St. Joseph hospital in Elgin, IL where he was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m.  On Sunday July 30, 2006 we had the wake where hundreds of people came, our little boy was so loved, mom, dad and big brother Hunter got to see Chase and dad noticed a big bump on Chase's forehead.  It's almost as if Chase was playing tag with mom and he was looking back to see if mom was coming and tripped and fell in the water.  We will never know, we will always wonder why God needed his little angel so soon.  July 27th is the worst day of all of our lives and it will never get easier we will always miss our little peanut. 


  The little compassionate one that taught us so much in his short 2 years with us.  When we first told Chase's older brother Hunter that he was going to be a big brother to a boy he was excited.  He wanted a brother so he would have someone to play with.  Chase would always tag along when Hunter was playing video games and we would give Chase the extra controller so he could be like his big brother.  Chase and Hunter would always sword fight with each other.  Chase is probably the King of Sword Fighting up in heaven and now he can eat as many Freeze Pops as he wants to, and he won't have to sneak into the freezer in the garage anymore and hang on the door to get the freeze pops.  Chase loved everything but he especially loved going to all of his brother's t-ball games when Hunter played in 2006.  Chase used to get so mad at Dad when he wouldn't let him hit the ball off the t.  He just wanted to play and couldn't wait unti it was his turn.  Chase loved playing all sorts of games and had a very cute laugh, and always made you laugh.  Chase always knew when Dad was home and he would go running to meet him at the door then nights that Mom had to work Chase could be in a deep sleep and Mom could come home late and as soon as Mom was in the house Chase was up looking to cuddle with her.  Chase's favorite football team was of course Notre Dame and he would walk around with Dad's hat.  Chase's favorite band that he liked listening to was All American Rejects with the song he liked being Move Along, and Yellowcard with the song View from Heaven.  We never really got to listen to all of the songs from the bands until Chase was gone and then realized that maybe he was trying to tell us something.  Chase's all time favorite movie was Phantom of the Opera.  Everytime that it was on tv Chase could be all the way down the hall in the computer room and then all of a sudden you would hear the pidder patter of his little feet and he would climb on Daddy's lap and watch the whole movie not moving until it was over.  Chase was so vibrant.  We will remember him forever.  

We will never forget his bear hugs or kisses.  He has taught us so much in his short time here.  He had so much to do and he made sure that he did a lot of it.  He has taught us to be friendly with everyone and to always get along and get to know new people.  My aunt said that she heard it doesn't matter how long you live but how you live.  That sure is true because Chase lived his life to the fullest. Those that knew Chase would always get a great big bear hug and wet kiss from him every time he saw them and he was always waving at everyone to meet new friends.  Everytime you saw him if you were having a bad day he would cheer you up.  He was the heart on our street.  He was always visiting the neighbors with mom and dad right behind him. We will forever miss that beautiful mischievous smile and wonderful kisses!! 

Chase is now our little butterfly.  We never saw butteflies near our house until the week before Chase left us.  Then the day Chase left us he was having such a good day at speech that his teacher told us to go and pick out these flashcards to help him.  We also let him and Hunter pick out a few items and Chase picked out a buttefly net, Mom tried to get him to pick out something else but he said NO and pointed to the buttefly net again.  Now every day when I open the front door I see a pure white buttefly in the front yard.  On the day of the service Chase's great Aunt Pam and her kids released some butteflies that they were growing. After the service we were all going back to Outback and when we were about half way there Mom looked down on the ground and saw one of the Monarch butteflies on the floor.  Mom picked it up and put it on her shirt and the buttefly wouldn't leave Mom's side until we got to Outback.  Once there the butterfly was flying all around the restaurant, which was Chase's all time favorite place to eat, I think Chase was the only 2 year old around that could eat more than half of a 16 oz. Prime Rib.  Finally we were able to release the buttefly right outside Outback but Mom saw one about a month ago right outside where she let it go almost a year ago.  Dad see's the Monarch buttefly when he is at work.



Well we have had Chase's 1st Birthday without him, the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years,Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day and now the hardest day of them all is coming up,  Your 1st Angel Anniversary. When we had your 1st Angel Anniversary everyone was playing the 1st Annual Chase Classic Softball Tournament and it was getting a little bit heated so we appreciated the rain and understood why it rained.  Thanks for that "cool off".  Through all of these firsts Hunter, Chase's older brother has been a rock for us, Chase must have told him that he needs to be there for mom and dad.  We will forever miss you and we will never let your sister Madeline forget you eventhough she never met you but I'm sure you will find a way to meet her, in fact I feel your presence when it is Maddie and I at night and she smiles an awful lot at the lights and ceiling.

The Rumachik Family could not have made it through this year without the love and support of all of our friends and family members.  There were some days when we didn't think we would make it but we are so glad we have the support system that we have.  

We are so grateful for the support that we received from the Village of Streamwood the first few months after and still today and Outback Steakhouse for everything they did with the Service as well as numerous family employeers who have done so much, words cannot describe how grateful we are.  

Footprints in Time in South Elgin is up and beautiful.  The dedication service was wonderful.  That is a place to go and be happy when you think of Chase.  Every week we go there so Hunter can dust off Chase's bricks and we always have seen a white butterfly right at the plaza.  We are grateful that family members have given so much for the memorial and also for the 2007 White Sox A Division for making a donation in Chase's name.  We feel so honored by everyone giving in Chase's name.








                                        

Mom has this tattoo on her shoulder so that you are always looking over me





Mom came across this song and thought it was so fitting 
Playing With The Angels

Lyrics by Eric Anthony & Joe Snead 



Got a job at the cemetery lawn

Just trying to make ends meet

I was trying hard to avoid her

To respect her privacy



But I couldn’t help but be drawn

To the teddy bear on the lawn

And the tear stained smiling picture

Of the little one now gone



And now he’s

Playing With the Angels

Up in heaven

Mama he’s alright

Don’t you worry

Cause someday you’ll

Have an answer

To the question why

But until that day

Mama it’s okay to cry



It must cold here without him

But here’s a little something warm

The Lord still plans for you to join him

And he’ll fill your empty arms



Can’t give you a reason why

Can’t give you a because

But he knows now angels love him

And he still knows mama does



And now he’s

Playing With the Angels

Up in heaven

Mama he’s alright

Don’t you worry

Cause someday you’ll

Have an answer

To the question why

But until that day

Mama it’s okay to cry



Did you know that God made you a promise

And you’ll see him after a while

But until then just know that he laughs each day

And he still smiles that same little smile

While he’s

Playing With the Angels

Up in heaven

Mama he’s alright

Don’t you worry

Cause someday you’ll

Have an answer

To the question why

But until that day

Mama it’s okay… to cry 




A Poem Submitted by Chase's Great Aunt Patti
Author Unknown

To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I will never return
To the angry, I was cheated,
But to the happy, I am at peace.
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

So as you stand upon a shore, 
Gazing at the beautiful sea-
Remember Me.

As you look ub awe at a might forest
And its grand majesty-
Remember Me.

Remember me in your heart, your thoughts
And your memories of the times we cried,
The times we fought, the times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, 
I will have never gone.








To My Angel

Wishing you were here is all I can do,
aside from recalling the sweet memories of you.
From the moment I knew of your presence in me,
to the precious and unforgettable moment of delivery,
you were our baby and forever would be
a part of us and our family. 


You were loved right from the start
and forever will be etched into our hearts.
Nothing can take away the love that we share,
or the pain and hopelessness that we bear. 


You, our child, were chosen to be taken away
and no parent can prepare for such an unwanted day.
That was the day our hopes and dreams were shattered,
and no longer resembling anything that mattered. 


Even though my life continues daily to it's destiny,
there will always be this emptiness accompanying me.
It waits patiently with me for the end to be,
for the day we will finally be together as a family. 


~Used with permission from Ruth Ann Mahaffey~
~Submitted by Jackie Rumachik~



Submitted by mom's good friend Jodi

You truly were an angel
sent from God in Heaven above.
Your shocking death just broke 
the hearts of everyone you loved.
When we found out that you had died
we thought they were wrong.
You were so alive-and then
just like that, you were gone.
A flame blown out in seconds,
confirming our worst fears-
A light that shines no more on earth
for which we shed many tears.
But still you are our beacon
and we need you right now.
You hear all the prayers we say
because they are answered somehow.
We wish that you could be here,
but in a way you are.
Your symbol of a butterfly goes everywhere 
with us, so we know you can't be far.
It still is quite a shock to us
that you had to die;
But no one wil forget you 
And we love you, and 
Goodbye our little Angel.



Soar with the Angels 
by Lyndie Sorenson an Angelmom Friend

Some day I will soar with the angels 
What a beautiful day that will be 
To look at the sky and see rainbows 
Coming from heaven for me 
 
Some day I will soar with the angels 
Pain will at last finally cease 
You will take me away from this sorrow 
To a place full of beauty and peace 
 
Some day I will soar with the angels 
My tears will be all washed away 
Sunshine and blue skies will greet me 
And you will be with me each day 
 
Some day I will soar with the angels 
No longer will life hold this grief 
A magical place, known as heaven 
Will erase this terrible thief 
 
Some day I will soar with the angels 
My spirit will then be set free 
To soar with my beautiful angel 
Together again, you and me 

You are the butterfly within the stars

We are so grateful for each and every one of you who have visited our site.  Please feel free to light a candle or enter a tribute to our son.  It helps our family to know that so many people are keeping our son and us in their prayers.  Thank you from the family of Chase Rumachik.