They called her their valentine, 19-year-old Britney Gengel, missing since Jan. 12, the day Haiti shook.
On the day of hearts and love, the parents of the last Lynn University student still missing in Haiti finally heard the news from the U.S. State Department that their daughter's body had been found, and she was coming home.
Amid their grief, Len and Cheryl-ann Gengel of Rutland, Mass., had the composure on Sunday to express thanks to those who had helped find her remains in the ruins of the Hotel Montana on a hillside overlooking Port-au-Prince.
"Even though our hearts are breaking, we are so grateful to the men and women who have worked at the Hotel Montana for the past 33 days," the Gengels wrote in a note distributed by Lynn University, where their daughter had been a sophomore.
Britney Gengel had been among 12 students and two faculty on a three-week program the university called "Journey of Hope." It was meant to inspire the students to charity and provide help to Haiti's poor.
Clip on charms They had spent the day visiting an orphanage on the day the earthquake struck.
Eight of them returned safely, because most had been sitting outside by the pool, writing in journals about all they had seen.
replica tag heruer watches Four of their friends, along with their professors, had gone back inside shortly before the hotel collapsed.
The eight survivors clung together and trekked to the U.S. ambassador's home. From there they moved to the U.S. Embassy lawn, and finally were transported to the Dominican Republic and evacuated home via private jet. Meanwhile, the fate of their six colleagues was uncertain and grim.
Days of fearful hope stretched into weeks of anger and anguish as family pleaded on national television for results. The Gengels, who had initially believed their daughter had survived, tearfully demanded the missing Americans not be abandoned to the rubble. Britney, recovered Sunday, was the last to be found.
The school announced an on-campus ceremony celebrating their lives and accomplishments would be held on a date to be determined.
Lynn University President Kevin M. Ross called Britney Gengel "a true inspiration."
"She was a beautiful young woman who gave her life serving others. We will miss her terribly," Ross said.
In their statement, Len and Cherylann Gengel called Britney their valentine, and thanked the many rescue workers and elected officials, including Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who advocated for their daughter's rescue and recovery.
An hour before the quake hit, Britney had phoned her mother to say she felt she had found her calling in life, after touring the orphanage. She had been so excited about the trip.
replica hublot watches "We sat with her before she left and talked about this trip being a life-changing event. We never knew that this trip would change our lives and hers forever," the Gengels wrote.
Other students whose remains have been found include Christine Gianacaci, 22, a sophomore from Hopewell, N.J, Courtney Hayes, 23, of Douglas, Ga. and Stephanie Crispinelli, 19, a sophomore from Katonah, NY.
Two members of the Lynn University faculty, Dr. Richard Bruno, 59, and Lynn education school dean Patrick Hartwick, 53, have also been confirmed dead.
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