‘Not easy’: Samantha Kalkbrenner’s parents volunteer at fish fry in her memory

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — For the very first time, we’re hearing from the mother of a local high school cheerleader killed in a school van crash.

Samantha Kalkbrenner, 15, attended Serra Catholic High School. She died in a school van crash on Sept. 20.

>> ‘Heart of her class’ Serra Catholic High School remembers student killed in crash in Dravosburg

“This is not easy,” Nenita Kalkbrenner said. “But I just decided to do it for her.”

Wednesday night was another night of firsts for Nenita and Carl Kalkbrenner.

It was the first Valentine’s Day without their daughter and their first time volunteering at St. Agnes’ fish fry without Sam.

>> Channel 11 speaks to family of 15-year-old Serra Catholic cheerleader killed in school van crash

From behind the cafeteria counter, Nenita honored her daughter by giving back to her church community: a community that was there for the couple during the most difficult moments of their lives, when Sam was killed in a school van crash on her way to Serra Catholic High school. Police say two men were drag racing.

“It’s difficult anyway but without the support network behind us, it would be a lot worse. It would be probably impossible,” Carl Kalkbrenner said.

Despite the unbearable pain of losing their daughter, their faith is what keeps them going.

“For five months, I watched her funeral mass. Every single day. That’s how I start my day,” Nenita Kalkbrenner said. “When I go to bed, I go to her room and I hug her pillow and say, ‘Mommy says good night. I love you,’”

It’s something Nenita says she will always do and that she will never let a day go by without honoring her daughter.

“We are just going to continue to live for her, that’s what she would want,” Nenita Kalkbrenner said.

“I tell her every day, we will meet again, but not yet,” Carl Kalkbrenner said.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

©2024 Cox Media Group