Elysia Pefley's battle inspired Red Wings
Elysia Pefley battled the cancer with help from her friends, family and the Detroit Red Wings' Keith Primeau and Steve Yzerman. Elysia, 11, died from Ewing's sarcoma, Sunday, March 17, 1996, in her parents' home in St. Clair County's Columbus Township. Elysia met Yzerman in 1991 when he was visiting sick children at St. John Hospital in Detroit. "Steven and Keith were wonderful," said her mother Anita Pefley. "They were friends, not just hockey players." Elysia never gave up hope. "In January of 1992 the doctors told her she wouldn't make it through the year. Every time they said she couldn't do it, she did," her mother said. In addition to loving hockey, she also loved ballet. She was a member of the Allard All - Stars dance troupe of Eastpointe and performed in the Nutcracker ballet for the past four years in the Fox Theatre. She accompanied Yzerman to the National Athletic Awards to benefit the March of Dimes in February where he talked about his hero Elysia. "People talk about professional athletes and their strength and courage. Well, Elysia is the strongest, most courageous person I've ever met in my life. And I consider myself lucky to have been able to call her my friend," Yzerman said. He then gave her a gold locket in the shape of a heart with an inscription known only to her and Yzerman said her mom. Survivors include her parents, Ralph and Anita Pefley; a sister, Meghan; a brother, Craig; grandparents, Ted and Juanita Brown; and great - grandparents, Ben and Cora Brown. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today and noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday, with a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, in the Schultz Funeral Home, 21705 Gratiot, Eastpointe 48021. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Angela Catholic Church, 25001 Chippendale, Roseville. Memorials may be made to the Elysia Pefley Dance Scholarship through the funeral home.
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