Mother of Three Passed Away Unexpectedly, Then Her Neighborhood Did Something Beautiful

A mother of three passed away unexpectedly, then her neighborhood did something beautiful. As a mom, stories like this stop me in my tracks. Maybe it's because I know what it feels like to make grocery lists while helping with homework. To think about tomorrow's dinner while folding tiny socks. To carry a thousand details for the people you love because that's what mothers do.

We pour ourselves out in a million ordinary ways and hope the people around us know how deeply they are loved.

Lindsey Died Unexpectedly

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That's why the story of Lindsey Engle from Colonial Heights, Virginia, left a lump in my throat. Lindsey, a mother of three young children, unexpectedly passed away from complications following surgery. But what happened next is a beautiful reminder that a life lived with love leaves a light that doesn't go out.

For years, Lindsey loved luminaries. The simple glow of candlelit bags lining the streets on Christmas Eve became a tradition she cherished so much. When neighbors learned of her passing, they knew exactly how they wanted to remember her.

"When we just got the message, we wanted to do this for Lindsey," her brother, Matt Robbins, said. "We expected four or five people and us to be here, and spontaneously, there were 40 people."

Soon, that number grew, along with the tribute. Neighbors placed 150 luminaries throughout the neighborhood, creating a glowing reminder of the woman they loved.

"She was just a light," family friend Caitlin Henard said.

Mother of Three Honored By Her Community

The people closest to Lindsey describe the kind of woman every community hopes to have. "It was not hard at all to love Lindsey," family friend Desiree McCurry said. "I mean as soon as she comes up to you, she'd smile, she'd quite literally light up a room."

What undoes me most is that even while preparing for surgery, Lindsey was thinking about everyone else. Friends shared that she had already arranged a meal train for her family while she recovered. She was planning for two weeks. None of them knew those two weeks would become forever.

"I think Lindsey is somebody that you can never forget," family friend Jon Labrake said. "She's somebody you could call and she would show up."

The Brightest Thing About Lindsey is Her Faith

And perhaps the brightest thing about Lindsey was her faith.

"When people say Christian, loves Jesus, spreads the message, she is very much that person," Desiree said.

This Christmas Eve, the luminaries will shine again. Children will laugh. Neighbors will gather. Tiny lights will line the streets she loved.

And somewhere in the glow, they'll remember a wife, a mother, a friend, and a woman whose life pointed people to Jesus.

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"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Mother of Three Passed Away Unexpectedly, Then Her Neighborhood Did Something Beautiful

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h/t: WTVR CBS News

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Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.