Greenwich teenager Josie Day commits suicideRelatives believe sometime between Saturday night early Sunday morning, Josie Day committed suicide.
No one will ever know the real reason why the relatively happy teenager committed suicide, but the family believes Josie never fully got over her difficult childhood living in an orphanage in the Caribbean.
Eight years ago Rev. Randy Day and his wife, Emily, fell in love with a then 8-year-old Josie while visiting an orphanage in Haiti.
With three kids of their own, two from previous marriages, and James, whom they adopted also from Haiti at the age of one, the couple began the necessary paperwork to adopt little Josie.
Seven years ago, not speaking a word of English, Josie came to live with her new family in America.
With help from family and tutors, Josie quickly learned to speak English, but she found it difficult to acclimate in a classroom environment since it was the first time she had ever been to school.
Josie grew into a lovely teenager with lots of friends, but deep down she struggled with the abuse she had suffered while living in the orphanage in Haiti.
Friends said Josie was a talker, but she talked about everything other than her life in Haiti.
Sometime Saturday night or early Sunday morning, Josie, a sophomore at Greenwich High School, walked to the detached two-car garage of her backcountry home, placed a towel over her head and hung herself.
Since the teenager did not leave a suicide note, no one will ever know the real reason why Josie committed suicide.
A wake is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the Round Hill Church and funeral services are scheduled for Thursday afternoon, also at 4:00 p.m. at the Round Hill Community church.
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I think the house they live in is at 3 John Street, it's the white pages result when I searched for Emily Day, wife of the Reverend. Reverend himself has no home listings. 3 John Street is also very close to the church, so makes sense..
Greenwich Time-After a massive earthquake struck her homeland of Haiti earlier this year, Greenwich High School sophomore Josie Day helped raise thousands of dollars to help with the extensive relief effort.
This week, members of the Greenwich community are mourning the loss of the smiling, friendly girl, a talented athlete who shared her culture in a town that was starkly different from where she grew up.
Jocelyne Gilles Day, 16, was born in Haiti and moved to the United States in 2005, after she was adopted by R. Randy Day, now pastor of the First Church of Round Hill, and his wife Emily. Josie, as she was known by friends and family, died Sunday.
"That's all she talked about, was going back to Haiti and helping her village," said Nicole Currivan, 15, also a sophomore and friend of Josie's.
Those who knew Josie were stunned by the loss. The Office of the Chief State's Medical Examiner in Farmington said her death was a suicide.
"We are heartbroken at the loss of our precious Josie," read a statement released by the Day family. "We appreciate the prayers and concerns of the community, and ask that our privacy be respected during this terrible time."
At Greenwich High School Tuesday, there was a moment of silence for Josie, and Superintendent of Schools Sidney Freund said the high school has convened the school crisis team to help students and staff deal with the loss. Counselors and school psychologists were available for grief counseling.
"There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow that is felt for the tragic loss of this young life," Freund said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the student's family, friends and teachers and we offer our condolences and support."
Josie's friends and teammates on the GHS spring track team remembered her as constantly smiling.
"I think a good word to describe her is very close to her name," said girls track coach Bill Mongovan. "She was a very joyous person."
Mongovan said Josie would openly talk about where she came from, even once sharing the raw sugar cane she brought, and showing her teammates the proper way to eat it.
"When the track season comes along, it's definitely going to be hard for everyone," said junior Claire D'Etiveaud, 16, who was part of a relay team with Josie. "We won't be used to running without her. She brought a lot to the team."
Nicole recalled that Josie loved being around her friends, and was quick with compliments.
"In school, the bell would ring for a class to have started (and) she would walk me to class, even if it meant her being late," Nicole said.
Fellow sophomore Rose Arezzini was in the school orchestra last year with Josie, who played violin.
Rose, 15, said when she first met Josie two years ago, Josie "gave me the biggest hug."
Josie had been working with Rose's older brother, Karl, who has autism, in the Little League Challenger Division, a baseball program for kids with special needs.
"She said, `I've been helping your brother play baseball,'" Rose recalled. "She was just very, very sweet, and she always had a glisten in her eye."
Hundreds have expressed their condolences and shared memories on a Facebook page created as a tribute to Josie.
Some friends said that while Josie seemed happy with her life in Greenwich, she talked about missing her relatives in Haiti. It was clear she had experienced hardship, having grown up in the mountains of Haiti with no electricity or running water, something R. Randy Day mentioned in an article he wrote for Greenwich Time last year.
Josie helped raise money to support the Greenwich teen chapter of Save the Children's Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Nicole said the day she and other friends of Josie's found out about her death, they went online and designed a silicone wristband that said, "Remember Josie." They are thinking of selling them and donating the proceeds to Haiti as a tribute.
"She always wanted to help Haiti," Nicole said. "We wanted to finish what she started."
Aside from her parents, Josie is survived by four siblings, including a brother who was also adopted from Haiti.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the First Church of Round Hill, 464 Round Hill Road. A church service will be held on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road.
