To Windy City Seals Club members and friends,
It is with great sadness that I write to you concerning the passing of our club member, Cheryl Dennis, during our dive trip to Cayman Brac last week. I'm sending this message to keep everyone informed of what has happened up to this point and the upcoming steps in finalizing her funeral arrangements.
On July 13th Cheryl was on her second dive of the day near Little Cayman when she became separated from her buddy while returning to the boat. After other divers returned to the boat they saw Cheryl on the surface a distance away and informed the dive master that she would need to be picked up. The dive master signaled to the remaining divers completing their safety stop to return to the boat and then swam out toward Cheryl with a fresh tank. When the last diver boarded the boat the captain drove to Cheryl's location where she was found unconscious with the dive master trying to revive her in the water with mouth to mouth. After she was brought on the boat CPR and oxygen were administered and an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator was attached. Paramedics met the boat at a dock in Little Cayman and Cheryl was transported to the clinic on the island where CPR, epinephrine and electronic defibrillation were administered without success.
At this time Cheryl's body has been transported from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman for an autopsy and arrangements are being made in Chicago for her funeral through:
Andrews Funeral Home
(773) 476-5188
3240 W 79th St
Chicago, IL 60652
An exact date for the funeral has not been set yet and is dependent on the time necessary to complete the autopsy. I have been communicating with authorities in Grand Cayman as well as with the funeral home and will send out an update as soon as I find out.
As an only child, Cheryl moved back to Chicago a few years ago to see to the care of her mother. If you would like to send a card or donation, please send it in care of her mother. Her address is:
Mrs. Nafamier Dennis
9309 South Wallace
Chicago, IL 60620
Everyone who met Cheryl knows what a special person she was and what life she brought to our club and to her former club, the New Orleans Bon Temps Divers. She was never without a smile and made a positive impact on everybody she came in contact with. As my club treasurer and personal friend, I am going to miss her dearly.
Please keep Mrs. Dennis and our club in your prayers as we move through the healing process.