Norwood School plants living memory to mother & daughter

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 5/5/16

A new dogwood tree at Norwood Elementary School will be serving as a living memory to Anna and Tarin Byrne, a student and mother from the school community.

Last Thursday, in celebration of Arbor …

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Norwood School plants living memory to mother & daughter

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A new dogwood tree at Norwood Elementary School will be serving as a living memory to Anna and Tarin Byrne, a student and mother from the school community.

Last Thursday, in celebration of Arbor Day, the Wildlife and Conservation Commission planted a tree at the elementary school, which was dedicated to the mother and daughter who have both passed.

Anna passed due to complications with cerebral palsy in August of 2014 and Tarin passed this January battling a brain tumor.

Anna had been a student at Norwood and Tarin was the incoming PTA president for the school.

Tarin’s husband and Anna’s father, Sean Byrne, along with Shannon Byrne, who currently goes to Norwood, were present for the ceremony and both partook in the planting of the dogwood tree.

“This ceremony has been bittersweet,” Sean said. “Tarin was dedicated to this school. I never knew how much she really did until she passed and then so many people and groups came out of the woodwork to support us and mourn her.”

Even after the passing of his daughter in 2014, Sean said the staff at Norwood was “at his doorstep” that morning to show their support and offer any help. Then when his wife first got sick they held fundraisers, raising money to offset medical costs, and cooking meals for the family.

“Every day they continue to be a source of support. It’s been very humbling and this is a perfect way to remember Anna and Tarin,” Sean said.

Principal of the school, John Gannon, said that although he didn’t know Anna well, Tarin was one of the first individuals to offer help when he came to the school as principal in the 2014-15 school year.

“She cared about every student who walked through these doors,” he said. “Everyday when I come in I will see this tree and think of her and her dedication to this school.”

At the ceremony Mayor Scott Avedisian, shared a story of his mother. About 70 years ago she had planted a red maple tree in the memory of her late brother.

“You can still drive by today and it’s still just as beautiful,” Avedisian said. “Trees are a lasting tribute to loved ones. This tree is a living way to remember Mrs. Byrne and her daughter Anna. It’s important to keep the Byrne family’s memory alive and with this they won’t be forgotten.”

Anne Holst, chairman of the Wildlife and Conservation Commission, told the students present that they would be “entrusted” to see that the tree stays alive and prosper, to “invest in the environment”, and the memory of two individuals who meant so much to school’s community.

“It means a lot to see how much my wife and my daughter were loved at this school,” Sean said.

Alongside Anna and Shannon, Tarin had three other children, Michaella and Alicia, Anna’s triplet sisters, and stepson Michael.

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