In Loving Memory Holly Jones, Charles G. Williams Park, Toronto, ON
Excerpt from www.insidetoronto.com:
Over a sunny and warm Victoria Day long weekend, Holly Jones’ family and friends gathered in Charles G. Williams Park at Sorauren and Wabash avenues, to help artist Art Child touch up the memorial mural that depicts the 10-year-old girl’s smiling face.
Sorauren Park and its surrounding green spaces hold a special place in Holly’s mother, Maria Jones’ heart.
"Our kids grew up in that area. They have all played there at the Sorauren Park, daily, for many years," Jones told The Villager. "Sorauren has wonderful memories with our kids there."
A decade has passed since Holly, an energetic and happy-go-lucky child, was abducted after walking a friend home in the Perth Avenue and Bloor Street West area in May of 2003. A month later, a 35-year-old software developer, who lived in the neighbourhood, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Pleading guilty, Holly’s killer received an automatic life sentence without a chance of parole for 25 years.
"We are much stronger now, but we don’t forget," said Jones. "We miss her so much every single day, but missing her isn’t the most painful part – I wish it was. It’s the fear and horror she suffered from the moment she was grabbed by the throat off the street. Knowing what she went through before her murder is the most heart-wrenching and painful feeling, it can’t be explained."
Jones struggles when she thinks of what her daughter was forced to endure.
"I envision the bounce in her walk, while coming home that day, with a big inner smile and then all of a sudden, I see the horror in her face, feeling her fear and knowing she was praying for mommy and daddy to come save her," said Jones. "Living with this thought is complete agony... It is a pain that no other parent should ever have to experience."
Jones credits the community for its continued love and support, particularly because Jones said she initially felt incredible guilt for allowing her daughter to walk the little girl home that day.
"I honestly thought everyone was going to blame me and hate me as a parent. I felt I deserved it, but they showed us so much support, care and love," said Jones. "By having all these people reach out to us made it feel like it will be the closest I will ever get to Holly."
Holly’s mural can be found at 41 Wabash Ave., painted on the side of Addison’s Inc. Antique and Reproduction Plumbing Fixtures. Child, a family friend and neighbour, projected a photograph of Holly onto the wall and traced her face.
"He’s really talented," said Holly’s brother James Jones-Stonehouse, at the mural on Saturday, May 18.
For 10 years, the mural has remained untouched by graffiti.
Jones-Stonehouse was 16 when his sister passed away. The mural was painted within a month of her death. When Jones-Stonehouse first set eyes on the work of art, he was "blown away."
Holly’s cousin, Kayla Jones, "fell in love with it."
She and Holly were close, the two would hang out during family dinners. In fact Kayla was at Holly’s house the night before Holly disappeared.
"I told her, ‘be safe, I love you,’" Jones said. "I dream about her; I feel her around me."
Holly’s death has caused a pain so deep her mother says will never go away.
"All we have left is to talk about her," she said. "Now, 10 years later, I still would not be able to deal with this if it wasn’t for our family, our children especially. They keep us together knowing they share the same pain as we do."
In Loving Memory Holly Jones, Charles G. Williams Park, Toronto, ON
Excerpt from www.insidetoronto.com:
Over a sunny and warm Victoria Day long weekend, Holly Jones’ family and friends gathered in Charles G. Williams Park at Sorauren and Wabash avenues, to help artist Art Child touch up the memorial mural that depicts the 10-year-old girl’s smiling face.
Sorauren Park and its surrounding green spaces hold a special place in Holly’s mother, Maria Jones’ heart.
"Our kids grew up in that area. They have all played there at the Sorauren Park, daily, for many years," Jones told The Villager. "Sorauren has wonderful memories with our kids there."
A decade has passed since Holly, an energetic and happy-go-lucky child, was abducted after walking a friend home in the Perth Avenue and Bloor Street West area in May of 2003. A month later, a 35-year-old software developer, who lived in the neighbourhood, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Pleading guilty, Holly’s killer received an automatic life sentence without a chance of parole for 25 years.
"We are much stronger now, but we don’t forget," said Jones. "We miss her so much every single day, but missing her isn’t the most painful part – I wish it was. It’s the fear and horror she suffered from the moment she was grabbed by the throat off the street. Knowing what she went through before her murder is the most heart-wrenching and painful feeling, it can’t be explained."
Jones struggles when she thinks of what her daughter was forced to endure.
"I envision the bounce in her walk, while coming home that day, with a big inner smile and then all of a sudden, I see the horror in her face, feeling her fear and knowing she was praying for mommy and daddy to come save her," said Jones. "Living with this thought is complete agony... It is a pain that no other parent should ever have to experience."
Jones credits the community for its continued love and support, particularly because Jones said she initially felt incredible guilt for allowing her daughter to walk the little girl home that day.
"I honestly thought everyone was going to blame me and hate me as a parent. I felt I deserved it, but they showed us so much support, care and love," said Jones. "By having all these people reach out to us made it feel like it will be the closest I will ever get to Holly."
Holly’s mural can be found at 41 Wabash Ave., painted on the side of Addison’s Inc. Antique and Reproduction Plumbing Fixtures. Child, a family friend and neighbour, projected a photograph of Holly onto the wall and traced her face.
"He’s really talented," said Holly’s brother James Jones-Stonehouse, at the mural on Saturday, May 18.
For 10 years, the mural has remained untouched by graffiti.
Jones-Stonehouse was 16 when his sister passed away. The mural was painted within a month of her death. When Jones-Stonehouse first set eyes on the work of art, he was "blown away."
Holly’s cousin, Kayla Jones, "fell in love with it."
She and Holly were close, the two would hang out during family dinners. In fact Kayla was at Holly’s house the night before Holly disappeared.
"I told her, ‘be safe, I love you,’" Jones said. "I dream about her; I feel her around me."
Holly’s death has caused a pain so deep her mother says will never go away.
"All we have left is to talk about her," she said. "Now, 10 years later, I still would not be able to deal with this if it wasn’t for our family, our children especially. They keep us together knowing they share the same pain as we do."