VIRGINIA BEACH
A seventh-grader at Cape Henry Collegiate School died after a skiing accident this week at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort in West Virginia.
Laila Serpe, 12, was on a much anticipated spring-break trip with her parents, Richard and Linda, and brothers, Sal, 16, Max, 15, and Rex, 9. The accident came Wednesday at the end of a day of skiing with her family. Her parents asked that the details of the accident not be published.
She was airlifted off the mountain and died Thursday at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Dave Cameron, head of the middle and upper schools at Cape Henry, said Laila was an exceptional student who played three sports. Last year, he presented her with the Faculty Award, given to a few students chosen by teachers for all-around excellence.
“You’d want your child to be like her,” Cameron said.
The students will gather next week for a remembrance after spring break ends.
Laila’s best friend, Halley Townsend, 12, remembers an outgoing, compassionate soul sister with a sense of flair.
“She was popular, but not in a mean way,” Halley said.
When they would get ready together for dances, “she was my hairstylist and spa person,” Halley said. She had a sense of fashion.
On the kitchen table at the Serpe home Friday, Linda Serpe was looking through snapshots of her daughter.
Laila looked out from pictures on the beach, the ski slope and the ice rink. S he practiced at Chilled Ponds three days a week and had recently taken the first qualifying test for competitive figure skating. She surfed with her brothers and wanted to be a professional skater.
She played the piano, sang in district chorus and recently played the grasshopper in “James and the Giant Peach.”
A wake will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Holy Family Catholic Church. She will be buried Monday at Princess Anne Memorial Park after an 11 a.m. Mass at Holy Family.
“She skied right off that mountain and straight to heaven,” Linda Serpe said. “She’s really an angel.”
Pilot reporter Kathy Adams contributed to this report.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
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The death of a child.
I was deeply saddened when my sister (Mrs. Seth)informed me of your lost. Although I live in Northern Virginia, I felt compelled to express my deepest sympathy. I am sure no words can comfort you during this difficult time however, I want to believe that with prayer,time and God's healing hand you will be comforted. Please know that you have many people praying for your family.
I am so very sorry. I was
I am so very sorry. I was there w/ my daughter on Wednesday afternoon. I beg you to not blame yourselves for having her there. The gift of skiing is invaluable and it is the same value I want instilled in my own. It is our worst fear for this type of thing to occur but it is always a few feet away. It looks like you were great parents to me.