David R. Smith
The Patriot Ledger
A Milton fifth-grader‘s cause of death over the weekend remains unknown to the public, but that has not stopped friends and strangers from finding ways to help lessen the burden of funeral and burial expenses for the girl described by a family friend as “a bright light in our community.”
Isabella “Bella” Pierre-Louis, a student at the Tucker Elementary School in Milton, died unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 22, Milton Public Schools Superintendent Peter Burrows said in a statement at the beginning of the week.
A GoFundMe account created to help ease the financial and emotional strain on Bella’s family raised just over half of its $100,000 goal in its first few days.
As Burrows and other school officials focused on providing parents with information on how to talk to their children about death and mourning, grief counselors from the Milton Public Schools and Riverside Trauma Center were on hand at the school to help students and staff with their emotional needs.
Piecing together a tragic timeline for Isabella Pierre-Louis’ death
When reached by phone at the beginning of the week, Milton police referred The Patriot Ledger to Randolph police, who had responded to a call at 7:32 a.m. Saturday for “a child having seizure/possibly not breathing.” The Randolph police log entry for the call listed the situation as a sudden death.
Asked to confirm if Isabella Pierre Louis was the subject of that entry, Randolph police said only that it is an open case and could not release any information at the time.
Reached Wednesday, a spokesperson for Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said his office was investigating the death of a girl whose name they have not yet released.
The spokesperson said foul play was not suspected and that the state office of the medical examiner will release its findings on a cause of death at some point.
Family friends create GoFundMe account for Bella Pierre-Louis
The GoFundMe account for Bella’s family was created by Régine Jean-Charles and Renisha Silva Talbot, who describe themselves on the page as “family friends, fellow moms and friends organizing community support with the family’s knowledge and consent.”
A photo of Bella at the top of the page shows her clad in her signature pink and her “Birthday Girl” tiara, smiling and making the shape of a heart with her hands.
The organizers said Bella was known for her many positive attributes, including “her warm friendship that touched countless children across our town’s schools, sports teams, and activities.”
Proceeds from the fund will go directly to the family, the organizers said.
“The emotional burden they carry is immeasurable, and we hope to ease at least some of their practical concerns during this devastating time,” the page says.
Thinking pink to keep Bella and her family in the minds of Milton residents and others
Jean-Charles and Silva Talbot hope the community at large will think pink to keep Bella and her family at the forefront of everyone’s minds by “affixing a pink ribbon to your home, mailbox, or other prominent place,” they say on the GoFundMe page.
“As these ribbons appear throughout Milton, they’ll create a visible community embrace – showing the Joseph family that they are surrounded by support wherever they go in our town,” the pair said.
To donate, visit GoFundMe.com and search “Help the Joseph family after the tragic loss of Bella” or go directly to gofundme.com/f/support-the-joseph-family-after-the-tragic-loss-of-bella.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
