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Nathan Elfrink passes away
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - March 01, 2010)
Nathan “Nate” Elfrink, the boy from West Jefferson who captured the hearts of people around the globe, passed away Feb. 26.
Calling hours are from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. March 1 at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson. A funeral mass will take place at the church at 11 a.m. March 2.
Nate, 7, battled brain cancer from the time he was 20 months old. His parents, Dode McVey and Tod Elfrink, found out in late November 2009 that Nate was out of treatment options.
Family, friends and the town of West Jefferson pulled out all the stops to make Christmas great for Nate. Through a drive initiated on Facebook, he received thousands of cards from people in all 50 states and several foreign countries.
Nate was born on July 29, 2002, in Columbus. He was a student at Norwood Elementary, a member of Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, and active in the West Jefferson Youth Athletic Association. He led “Nate’s Mates,” a Madison County Relay For Life team that raised money for the American Cancer Society.
Nate is survived by: his parents; sister Ellie Elfrink; half-sisters Blair and Aarika Elfrink; grandmother Marcelia Elfrink of West Jefferson; grandfather Joe Elfrink of Lilly Chapel; grandfather Ace Forrest and his wife, Cindy, and great-grandfather Don Forrest, all of West Jefferson; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. His grandmother Saundra Forrest preceded him in death. The family is being served by Rader-McDonald Funeral Home, West Jefferson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pediatric Brain and Tumor Foundation, 302 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, N.C. 28806.
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