Family, Friends, Teammates Say Goodbye to L-W East Freshman

The youngest of eight children, Patrick Mizwicki was his large family's mascot, known for his sense of humor and his ability to touch the hearts of those around him.

That's how one family member described the 14-year-old freshman . 

On Tuesday, hundreds of mourners filled in Frankfort for the New Lenox teen's funeral, listening as those who knew Mizwicki talked about his love of sports as well as his love of making others laugh. 

Those attending the service were a mix of family, friends and classmates. Students from L-W East with parental permission to attend the funeral were bused there by the school. 

Scott Crawley, Mizwicki's brother-in-law, read a letter to the teen written by his family. It talked about Mizwicki's passion for athletics that exhibited itself in his encyclopedic knowledge of sports, his participation in baseball and cross country, as well as his devotion to ESPN's SportsCenter, which he watched three times a day.

In fact, the sports side of Mizwicki's life was touchingly represented at the funeral. Family members wore specially made Cubs pins. Members of the Frankfort Eagles youth baseball team that Mizwicki played for—wearing their jerseys over ties and dress shirts—lined the aisle as the casket was carried into and out of the church. The boys cross-country team from L-W East sat together on benches at the back of St. Anthony's. Parent volunteers also drove the team members to the burial site at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

"Over the past few days, we found out that your world was larger than we ever imagined," Crawley said, reading from the letter. "We're happy to see you lived it to the fullest."

Kenichi Haynie, Mizwicki's best friend since they were 8, also eulogized his baseball teammate. He talked about how in the five years they knew each other they had become like family.

"Pat was my little brother, and I would do anything for him," Haynie said. 

"This is how I choose to memorialize him, with a grin on his face and love in his heart," he added.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the Frankfort Eagles youth baseball team. Patch regrets the error.