Mourning Pelock Family Remembers Hayley's Life, Death and Love for Others

Larry and Andrea Pelock were hit with the most devastating news two committed parents could ever hear March 11, 2011.

Their daughter Hayley's life was abruptly ended from a gun shot wound after,

Patch followed the story closely as a Facebook memorial page sprung to life, .

Then the Pelock's, with the help of Jacob Kosarko and Rosa Petrongelli, sold bracelets and DVDs remembering Hayley's life, all with the purpose of handing out a scholarship at the cosmetology school their daughter attended, Trendsetters in Tinley Park.

There plans have come to fruition as the first Hayley Pelock Fabulous Forever Scholarship of $1,000 was handed out Nov. 9.

"At what would have been Hayley's graduation, we presented it to the girl, Marina," said Andrea. "It was very nice, the graduation was very nice."

While the Pelock's were happy to remember Hayley through a scholarship, they're closely following any new developments involving Fantasia, who was charged with obstructing for allegedly hiding the weapon, according to police.

Fantasia's most recent hearing was Dec. 5 at Markham Courthouse, but his lawyer was in court for another case, so any further proceedings were delayed until January. The Pelock's have not talked to Fantasia since their daughter's death.

"We go every time just to represent Hayley," said Larry Pelock. "We've seen Ryan there but he's never talked to us or contacted us. I don't know if that's his lawyer telling him that or if it's just what he wants to do."

Hayley had been dating Ryan for nearly three years, and the Pelock's knew him  well.

"He was nice guy, and was here a lot," Andrea said. "He came on vacation with us last year. You never thought anything like this. I didn't know he had a gun."

Larry said he was equally blindsided by it all, and doesn't entertain ideas that Fantasia acted maliciously.

"We both kind of feel Hayley was everything to Ryan, and to think that he would have done something like that on purpose or wanted to do that is hard to believe," Larry added. "But he's the only one that knows, and he's not telling anybody what really happened."

A Loving Daughter and Sister

The Pelock's have always been a close-knit family. Hayley and her older brothers Trevor and Paul would join Larry and Andrea on family vacations, a feat many families with older children struggle with.

"We love our kids and they love us, and we love each other," Larry said. "We went on vacation last year and someone asked me, 'How do you get your kids to go on vacation with you at that age? My kid doesn't even want to talk to me.'"

Andrea said Hayley's personality was naturally upbeat and unifying.

"She was very outgoing, friendly, energetic, always wanting to help people," Andrea said. "That's why hairdressing was right up her alley, because she could stand there and talk to anybody."

Larry agreed, sharing stories he heard from teachers at Hayley's Alma Mater .

"Some of her teachers, at the wake, told us that whenever she saw someone who was having a tough time after class, she'd put her arm around them and tell them 'it'll be alright,'" Larry said.

As the family moves forward, they would like to thank Patch readers and the more than 2,500 Facebook fans for supporting their cause. If you would like to follow the Hayley Pelock Facebook page, visit R.I.P. Hayley Pelock 1991-2011. Gone But Never Forgotten.

If you would like to buy a bracelet or DVD memorializing Hayley, contact Andrea Pelock at 708-415-0400.