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After the tragic passing of former BYU athletes Reno and Sunny Mahe’s 3-year-old daughter Elsie, it has been announced that a public memorial service will be held in her honor Friday.
Elsie was found hanging from blind strings in the Mahe home on Nov. 22 and had to be taken by medical chopper to Primary Children’s Hospital. She passed away a week later on Nov. 29.
Prayers for the Mahe family. https://t.co/QwiVyqpu87
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) November 22, 2016
With Reno being such a well-known and loved BYU figure, former NFL player and current BYU running backs coach, the story of the accident quickly gained a lot of traction. A GoFundMe was set up Nov. 22 and has since raised nearly $80,000 (link in paragraph and embedded tweet above). Elsie’s story, including the fact that her organs would be donated to those in need, has been shared all over social media by Cougar Nation and has gained national attention as well, being tweeted about by ESPN’s Sam Ponder as well as being written about on CNN and more. Elsie’s story has touched thousands upon thousands.
Bawling reading this. Praying for this sweet family as they mourn. I'm sure the BYU community will support and comfort... just heartbreaking https://t.co/mRYldUT1E7
— Sam Steele Ponder (@sam_ponder) November 30, 2016
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 30, 2016
As such, Sunny posted in the Mahe Update group on Facebook (that has more than 12,000 people in it), that the family has been working to plan a public memorial service so all those who mourned with the Mahe family through Elsie’s accident can share in celebrating her life.
The public service will be held at The Salt Palace Convention Center (100 S. W. Temple) in downtown Salt Lake City on Friday, beginning at 6 pm and going until 9 pm in room 155. Sunny’s Facebook post says there will be free parking in the West Convention Center lot across from the Vivint Smart Home Arena.
“We had felt prompted to accommodate as many people as possible to come and celebrate Elsie's life and feel of her spirit,” the Facebook post reads.
“Please don't feel the need to stay away. We will have our private services on Saturday, but we have felt so blessed and upheld by your kind words and shared faith. We want to offer you some closure as you have been mourning along with us.”