About 100 people gathered at Eisenhower Elementary School in Warsaw for a prayer vigil in honor of Abbey Lake Hagan on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Lake Hagan, an Eisenhower paraprofessional, passed away after suffering a stroke. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — An Eisenhower Elementary School employee was remembered at a prayer vigil Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the school’s gym after she died unexpectedly.

The event was originally meant to pray for Abbey Lake Hagan’s recovery from a stroke, but that changed after she passed away, according to a family member’s Facebook post. Some who showed up did not realize she had passed.

Around 100 people gathered for the vigil. Warsaw Community Church Pastor Denny Wilson spoke briefly at the event. He said Lake Hagan attended church at WCC.

“I think we’d all rather be just about anywhere else tonight but here for this reason, but at the same time we’d be amiss (to not think about) what a special person Abbey was and what a difference she made in so many lives here,” he said.

He then asked for a moment of silence for Lake Hagan.

“Heavenly Father, I want to thank You so much for Abbey’s life,” he prayed. “We take comfort in knowing that she loved You deeply and had a strong faith in Christ.”

“And we just ask, God, right now, that You be with Amber and Jayme and Piper (Lake Hagan’s daughters),” he continued. “I just pray that You wrap your arms around them as a perfect loving parent and bring them some sense of peace … And so we just pray, God, that You would take care of their needs.”

“I pray for this school … for the students, staff and parents as hard conversations unfold, that You would give each and every person a sense of wisdom and understanding,” Wilson prayed. “And Lord, we just ask that You would give us all a sense of peace and hope in the middle of a loss like this as we find ourselves grieving.”

Julie Hagan (no relation to Lake Hagan) helped organize the event.

She previously worked with Lake Hagan at Eisenhower and has children who’ve attended the school.

“All three of my kids have come to this school … she touched all three of their lives,” she said.

She said she hoped the event would have a positive impact.

“I think it’ll just bring the Eisenhower families together and the Warsaw community and bring them together to pray for Abbey’s family and all the kids and students and teachers,” she said.

Warsaw Community Church Pastor Denny Wilson spoke and prayed at the event.