Funeral service Sunday for Azana shooting victim Maelyn Lind
OCONOMOWOC -- 38-year-old Maelyn Lind was remembered during a visitation and funeral service Sunday, October 28th -- one week after she was killed when 45-year-old Radcliffe Haughton entered the Azana Salon & Spa in Brookfield and opened fire. Lind was one of three killed. Four others were injured before Haughton turned the gun on himself.
Services for Lind, a mother and grandmother were held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, located at 210 East Pleasant Street in Oconomowoc.
During the service Sunday, Rev. Lance Armstrong O'Donnell recited a confirmation verse Lind read back in 1988 -- calling it a summary of her life. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down their life for one of his friends" -- a series of words uttered at age 13, foreshadowing more than Lind's sense of selflessness.
Lind's father, Keith Hanson believes his daughter took a gunman's bullets to save others in the salon that day.
"They all pretty much assured me that Maelyn was a hero. I heard that a lot today," Hanson said.
Lind's family held a press conference two days after the shooting at the Stone Bank Fire Department, where a statement was read by Lind's 19-year-old daughter, Kaela.
"She died a hero not only to those at Azana on Sunday, but she was also our hero. She worked very hard and took great care of us. Best of all, she was the coolest mom. I could only hope to be as great a mom as she was," Kaela Lind said.
Lind's daughter Kaela said Lind was thrilled to be a grandmother to two grandchildren.
"Every time she came home, she wanted to hold and see her babies," Kaela Lind said.
Lind's father said Lind was a selfless woman who worked three jobs to support her family and would drop all of her plans to help a friend.
"She is now one of God's angels and is still here with us. I cannot begin to tell you how much she is missed," Hanson said.
Hanson says despite the gunman's past run-ins with police, he isn't blaming law enforcement. Hanson says he believes everyone needs to be more vocal when it comes to domestic violence issues and believes Lind's story will make a difference in laws surrounding domestic violence.
In a statement sent to FOX6 News earlier Tuesday, Lind's family had the following to say:
"The Lind and Hanson family would like all to know that the death of Maelyn is a tragic loss for our family. We have been comforted by the outpouring of support from both family and friends.
Maelyn will always be remembered as a wonderful wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, and community member. Her infectious smile will always be remembered by all in the Lake Country area. We will miss her willingness to assist all who were in need.
Maelyn is survived by Timothy her husband. Tim and Maelyn are proud parents of Kaela, nineteen, Kody, seventeen, Kolten, thirteen and Kammeron, eleven. A grandson Xander who was born on August 29th of this year and granddaughter Lily who was born on September 19th of this year are also treasured throughout the family. Special friends to her children, Logan Krivitz (father of Xander) and Alyssa Phillips (mother of Lily) were dear friends to Maelyn, and she cared for them as her own. Maelyn is survived by loving parents Marsha and Keith Hanson who have been involved throughout the years with all of the children."
Sara Junio, who was close friends with Lind told FOX6 News for 11 years, Lind was her hair stylist and close confidant.
"For women, a good hair dresser is like having a good friend because your hair dresser knows you better than anyone else in your family because if you think about it, when we get our hair colored, we have two hours to sit in a chair and chat so you know that person -- whether it was Maelyn learning about me or me learning about Maelyn and her family," Junio said.
Junio said her appointments with Lind were about so much more than hair.
"It was all about therapy. It's your good friend. You sit down and she knows you for better or worse, similar to how your husband knows you," Junio said.
Junio said she knew Lind was set to work on Sunday, and when Lind didn't return Junio's calls or texts, Junio said she began to worry. That night, her concern had melted into heartbreak and shock.
"As a Christian, you're always working through your beliefs and preparing for the inevitable but until it hits you, you step back and realize, 'how could I ever prepare for when a good friend passes?'" Junio said.
In the hours that followed the shooting, Junio heard stories of Lind stepping in front of the gunman.
"While I wanna scream at the top of my lungs 'how could you, Maelyn, do this?!' the belief inside of me is she was just doing what she does, just protecting and helping others," Junio said.
A memorial fund for Lind has been set up at the BMO Harris Bank in Oconomowoc.
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