Remembering Lauren Zarembka

“I remember the day as though it were yesterday. It was the second of two of the most memorable days in my life. November 4, 1988. At 3:28 AM, Lauren Ashley Zarembka, entered this world. Her mom and I didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl…but Lauren didn’t waste any time letting us know - we knew we had a new baby daughter!” These are the words from a loving father who now deals with the loss of that daughter. Bruce Zarembka spent some time with The Reporter recently in a wide ranging interview in which he discussed the lasting impact Lauren has had on so many people. Lauren was a promising East Providence High School graduate in 2006. Her road to graduation, however, was more difficult than most. At age 5, doctors found a brain tumor. The tumor was benign and Lauren was closely monitored with MRI’s and other exams for the next several years. “She was doing just fine,” recalled her dad. As Lauren entered grade 7 at Riverside Middle School her tumor began to grow. The ugly tumor was still benign and things were still okay with Lauren. It became clear that this young girl had a talent for music and the arts as she had the lead part in the popular play “Annie”. The young “Annie” was played spectacularly by Lauren and, thus, kicked off what would be a wonderful career in theatre. “By the time Lauren got to the high school, she knew she wanted to do more acting. She got the lead part in “Footloose” presented by EPHS,” said Bruce Zarembka. She was also in the Meistersingers, Choral Ensemble and Flag Corp as well as helping patients in the ‘Tomorrow Fund Clinic’.

Lauren’s health, however, would take a sad turn around her junior year. Before a class trip to Italy, Lauren began to experience ‘bad headaches.’ “She was okay though and wanted to go on the trip. Her will and resiliency took over and she made the class trip with little difficulty,” said Zarembka. It wasn’t long after returning home, though, that Lauren wasn’t feeling well. There were trips to the Emergency Room and more MRI’s. The tumor had come back and it was malignant now. She had surgery during her junior year. Before her young life would end, Lauren Zarembka would have some six surgeries and receive chemo therapy and radiation treatment at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. In the midst of her cancer treatment that junior year, Lauren kept up practice for her role in Footloose. “I think what got her through that period (the play and treatments) was her strong will and unbelievable tenacity. She wasn’t going to miss being the lead in that play,” said her father. “She was in the hospital right before the play and was practicing her lines while in her hospital bed. She told me to ‘tell Mr. Man (play director Jim Manchester) that I’ll be there’!” Within two weeks of brain surgery, Lauren Zarembka was on stage performing the lead role in Footloose. “The character of Ariel called for a beautiful, vivacious, strong-willed yet vulnerable actress. Lauren brought all of these characteristics and more to the part that she was born to play,” recalled now-retired EPHS Theatre Director Jim Manchester. “Lauren got the coveted lead and defied the odds to breathe life into that lead. Struggling against debilitating headaches from a growing life-threatening tumor, Lauren honed, owned the part of Ariel, defied the pain and exemplified beauty, courage, strength, and fortitude on stage so that character and actress became one,” said Manchester. It is obvious that both Manchester and current EPHS music director Maryanne LaSorsa were moved very deeply by Lauren Zarembka. “For me, the director, the most poignant moment came as Lauren sang the song ‘Almost Paradise’. Her lovely voice assailed the lyrics, and brought tears to my eyes every time I heard her sing,” said Manchester.

Lauren would finish her junior year and undergo more treatment and surgery that summer. “Lauren loved life until the very end. She lit up a room whenever she entered - and it’s not the dad in me saying that, everyone else would notice that about her,” said Zarembka. Lauren’s parents and her brother Steve get by these days fed by the vibrant and unforgettable life that she lived. Lauren’s father spends his days as the Director of Acquisition for the Rhode Island Community Food bank. “I never looked at it this way,” said the elder Zarembka, “but I guess my working with the food bank keeps me helping others as Lauren often did. That’s something she never lost, her thoughtfulness for others, even when she was so ill,” he added. “During Lauren’s many hospital stays she was always saying thank you and offering cheery hellos to the staff. She didn’t let the cancer get her down,” he would proudly say.

Lauren’s tumor was officially called Ganglioneuroma, a rare type of cancer. The Zarembkas’ always thought that she would beat it however. “Boy could she eat!” said her dad. “For something as bad as her cancer, she still loved to eat. We laugh about it sometimes now, through the tears. During her last months and weeks of life she would get cravings for chocolate cake or some fast food. We would take her out to Gregg’s restaurant or Taco Bell late at night and chow down - even though she was always so thin and fit,” smiled Zarembka. “She had such a positive attitude. Lauren taught me so much about life,” said her dad. “I remain positive today because of her legacy and lessons in life.”

Lauren Zarembka had a pretty routine senior year at EPHS. Her cancer was in a bit of remission, she was accepted at the University of Rhode Island and things began to look up. “We’ll never really know what she would have done. She wanted to work with kids, she was so good with kids and she also may have pursued a career in theatre or acting,” Zarembka mused. “She probably could have combined a theatrical career while working with children like the Tomorrow Fund or some similar effort.” However, right after Lauren’s senior prom her tumor came back. Lauren viewed this as a temporary setback and figured she would just start classes at URI in January instead of September. But by late November there would be two more surgeries and a 39 day hospital stay at Hasbro’s. “Lauren spent her 18th birthday in Hasbro. After her last surgery she had balance problems, needed a walker and just about 24 hour assistance,” said Zarembka. Amazingly, though, she kept positive. After her last MRI, the doctors told her that nothing more could be done. Lauren died two days later on September 23, 2007 after her 2 ½ year battle to live. “We lost Lauren on the first day of fall. It was like an ending and a new beginning - I can’t quite explain it,” said her dad.

The Zarembka family funneled their grief into the establishment of the ‘Lauren Ashley Zarembka Memorial Foundation’. The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to assist graduating and continuing students whose studies will be in the disciplines of, medicine, music/theater and culinary arts, while also providing funding for music/theater programs and families battling Pediatric Cancer from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. In order to fund this foundation, a dinner, silent auction, raffles and a DJ, all take place in an annual event to benefit the foundations mission.

The Fifth Annual "Your Heart Will Go On" Lauren Zarembka Memorial Foundation Fundraiser will be held on Saturday May 19, 2012 from 6:30PM to 11:00PM. at the Saint Brendan School Hall on Turner Avenue in Riverside, RI. Tickets are available by calling 401-433-4883, 438-4445, 253-3715. Tickets can also be obtained at Schroders Deli, Willett Avenue, Riverside RI. Tickets are $20PP, $10 children Ages 5--10. Donations are welcomed for those who cannot make the event in person.

To date the foundation has raised over $75,000.00, which has been used to provide $24,000.00 in scholarships as well as close to $6000.00 in donations to music/theater programs, which were some of Lauren’s true passions. Additionally the foundation has provided over $7,000.00 to adopt families battling pediatric cancer through the Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. This brings to seven, the number of families helped during the past five holiday seasons.

“I thank everyone for helping and have to mention some corporate sponsors such as Shamrock Financial, Ocean State Job Lot, LaSalle & Associates Accounting, Trinity Rep, MTG Disposal, Helping Hands Association, Arrow Prestige Limo and PPAC, for their generosity,” said Zarembka. Zarembka has also set up a face book page with more “Lauren Zarembka Memorial” information.

As Lauren’s pain grew worse before opening night of Footloose, LaSorsa and Manchester had a friend of Lauren’s prepared as a backup for the show, “just in case.” “But Lauren's strength of will, enthusiasm, grit and love for musical theater won out, and she made magic for three memorable nights in March,” said Manchester. Indeed, Lauren Zarembka made magic for all who knew her.