Richfield family, friends mark first anniversary of Jonathan O’Shaughnessy’s death July 3

Cynthia plants a daisy garden in the backyard of her Richfield home. 

They grow in a fenced-in area surrounded by ceramic angels, some of which she has collected at thrift stores and others given to her by friends, neighbors and family members who have seen her garden. The largest angel’s hands are missing, but that angel is Cynthia’s favorite. A plastic rose takes the place of the missing hands, mimicking two hands fused in sustained prayer.

She’s repurposed her grief from the loss of her only son by volunteering. Like the angel’s missing hands, Cynthia’s taken her grief from the absence of her son and placed a rose.

Recently, Cynthia hurt her ankle. She fliers her neighborhood and across the suburbs of Minneapolis to bring Jonathan’s killers to justice. While trying to post fliers, she jumped up to staple one to a telephone pole and hurt her ankle. Although she accidentally injured herself, she stays persistent.

“The doctor said it would heal in a month,” Cynthia said. “Once it heals, I’m going to try to flier Minneapolis.”

To lessen her grief, she plans monthly charity events and gives back to the community, holds fundraisers and puts up fliers. At this year’s Richfield Red White and Blue Days, her charity group Justice for Jonathan O’Shaughnessy will be a part of the annual parade and vendor fair. From June 15 to Cynthia’s birthday, Aug. 15, Justice for Jonathan O’Shaughnessy will collect school supplies and backpacks. Cynthia’s list of items to donate is directly from each grade’s school supply list.

On July 16, Pizza Luce will donate 25 percent of its proceeds to Justice for Jonathan O’Shaughnessy. She hopes others will join this group to do good for their community by paying it forward. For details about Justice for Jonathan O’Shaughnessy’s collections, charity events and to volunteer, visit Facebook.com/justiceOshay/

“In November and December, we will begin collecting hats, coats, mittens and sleeping bags for homeless veterans and pajamas for the women’s shelter,” Cynthia said. “His second candlelight vigil will be on Night to Unite, Aug. 7, at Jonathan’s memorial bench. We are going to do highway cleaning again on Saturday, Aug. 11, on Highway 35W South to Highway 13 East.”

Cynthia said funds collected by Justice for Jonathan O’Shaughnessy go toward multiple uses to pay it forward and keep Jonathan’s name out in the universe. She said the charity work will continue even after the killer is brought to justice.

“This group isn’t something that’s going to end,” Cynthia said. “Jonathan always loved doing work like this, and we are going to continue to honor his memory.”