Carissa MacKendrick (B.Mus. '12, B.Ed. '14) remembers late aunt by recreating convocation photo

Carissa MacKendrick recreates a photo of her aunt who died in a car crash at age 35.

When Carissa MacKendrick’s aunt died in a car crash nearly 20 years ago, her parents chose a photo taken just before her Laurier convocation to remember her. They placed it on top of the piano and that’s where it remains to this day.

In the photo, Sylvia Bilitz (BBA ‘88) is wearing her convocation gown and hood in front of the family home. She’s smiling and holding golden flowers. That’s the image MacKendrick pictures when she thinks of her aunt. For years, she had wanted to recreate the photo as a way of feeling closer to Bilitz. With her own convocation coming up in June 2019, MacKendrick decided it was time to follow through.

Bilitz passed away on Dec. 13, 2000 at age 35. MacKendrick was in Grade 9 at the time.

“She was someone I really connected with,” MacKendrick said. "I didn’t have to ask what I wanted for my birthday, she always knew.”

She remembers her aunt’s contagious laugh, her smile and how Bilitz always made her feel like everything was going to be OK. After her aunt’s death, MacKendrick took to wearing Bilitz’ 1988 graduation ring, which is inscribed with the word, “miracle.” It’s provided comfort many times over the years.

Today, MacKendrick is wrapping up her studies and working at Laurier as a senior recruitment coordinator. This spring, she’s graduating for the third time. She earned a Bachelor of Music in 2012 and Bachelor of Education in 2014. She’s now receiving a master’s degree in community music.

“There have been so many times while I’ve been a student at Laurier, or worked at Laurier, that I’ve wondered what hallways did she walk down? What clubs was she involved in? They were such a big part of my Laurier experience and I wonder, what would she say?”

Sylvia Bilitz, seen here before convocation on May 30, 1988. Bilitz died in a car crash at age 35. Her niece, Carissa MacKendrick, right, recreated the photo ahead of her own convocation in spring 2019. 

In addition to thinking this may be her last time crossing the convocation stage at Laurier, MacKendrick’s decision to recreate the photo now was further motivated by knowing that her grandparents' advanced age means they won't be in the home that much longer.

“They’re in their late 80s and this may be my last chance to do this,” she said. “I’m a sentimental person and family means a lot to me.”

MacKendrick received special permission from Laurier to take the convocation gown off-site for the photo shoot and to wear the hood before her graduation — it’s customary that the hood is worn only after crossing the stage.

Her mom, grandfather and grandmother — Bilitz’ parents — shared the moment with her. Grandma and grandpa sat on the porch as MacKendrick put on the gown and hood. Her mom, cellphone camera in hand, said Bilitz would’ve been proud.

“Convocation is a time to think back to all of the people who got you to this point and supported you,” MacKendrick said. “Even though my aunt wasn’t with me in the way that some of my other family members were, I felt her every day. Every time I glanced down at her ring or at her photo was a reminder that she was there inspiring me the whole time.”

As she stood on the lawn in front of the house holding on to her aunt’s photo, MacKendrick said she had been thinking about what this moment would be like for a long time.

“It feels really special to do it here,” she said while looking over her shoulders at her mom and grandparents on the porch.