Celebration of life
<span>CHESTER -- In one of the most difficult and emotional weeks in recent Chester history, Bret and Toree Chandler were laid to rest at St. John Lutheran Cemetery on Thursday.</span>
<span>Funeral services were held at St. John Lutheran Church, where Pastor Peter Ill delivered a sermon reportedly geared toward 7-year-old Damon Chandler, who - along with 8-month-old sister Fallon - is one of the children left behind after his parents' death.</span>
<span>"I know a lot of people have been asking about 'Why would this happen?'" Ill said to the Herald Tribune after the graveside service. "Especially to Bret and Toree, who were such a vibrant and involved part of our community - both the Chester community and the St. John community.</span>
<span>"The Bible doesn't give a good answer to the 'Why' question. The Bible gives a good answer to the 'What' question. The parts of scripture I have been referring back to, and I used these in the (funeral) service, (were) 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age' and I have been thinking a lot about that."</span>
<span>In the days following the Chandlers' fatal wreck on Missouri Route T in the evening hours of July 19, Chester and the surrounding communities have banded together in a story that has now reached two continents.</span>
<span>The Daily Mail, out of London, England, picked up the story on July 22.</span>
<span>"The family down here - and I consider us a family - when one hurts, we all hurt," said Menard Correctional Center Warden Kim Butler, who is a parent herself and attended services throughout the week for the couple. "They'll pull through it because they are a family."</span>
<span>Both Chandlers worked at the prison. Bret as a correctional officer and and Toree as an office assistant.</span>
<span>Toree had joined the staff four months ago and several dozen correctional officers attended services on the Chandlers' behalf.</span>
<span>"For the most part, they're leaning on one another," Butler said of the staff's response. "We can have our differences, but whenever we have an incident either inside or outside the facility, it's hard for all of us."</span>
<span>More than 1,200 people attended the couple's memorial service at Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home on July 23, with the line for visitation stretching outside the building only 30 minutes after it began.</span>
<span>"That was a true testament to what the Chandler family meant to our city," said Chester Mayor Tom Page.</span>
<span>Justin Nortin, Toree's brother, also responded to the outpouring of support in the wake of the tragedy.</span>
<span>"I'm just overwhelmed by the love everyone's shown us," Nortin said. "It's sad, but it touches you that so many people have reached out."</span>
<span>On www.gofundme.com, donations to the fund for the couple's funeral expenses and children's educational needs exceeded its goal of $20,000 and stood at more than $23,000 as of Friday afternoon.</span>
<span>More than 370 people have donated thus far, with one family contributing $1,000 alone.</span>
<span>"My brother (Bryan) is taking the children and that's a new thing for him because he has two already," Justin Nortin said.</span>
<span>A benefit fundraiser has been scheduled for the family starting at 10 a.m. on Aug. 2 at 1st Class Auto, located at 823 State Street, in Chester. </span>
<span>A free will car wash, barbeque, 50/50 drawing and a silent auction will be held with proceeds to benefit the Chandler Children's Trust Fund.</span>