Funeral set for Glenbard West student killed in crash

Funeral arrangements have been finalized for a Glenbard West High School senior who died following a Jan. 29 automobile accident.

Pierre Washington-Steel's aunt said visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Midwest Memorial Chapel, 5040 S. Western Ave., Chicago, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at Progressive Life Giving Word Cathedral, 4500 Frontage Road, Hillside. The funeral will follow at Progressive Life, with a gathering scheduled to end at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Petronille Parish Life Center, 420 Glenwood Ave., Glen Ellyn.

Washington-Steel died Feb. 4, six days after he lost control of a 2008 Ford Fusion and struck a utility pole on Swift Road just north of St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn. Fire officials had to extricate Washington-Steel, 17, along with fellow West football running back Demarco Whitley, a 16-year-old junior.

Whitley was released this week from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. No further information is available on his condition.

Washington-Steel's aunt, Laveppia Brown, said the three-sport athlete hoped to play baseball and keep his football and track options open at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and had recently visited North Central College in Naperville.

Brown said the outpouring of support from not only Glenbard West but also her son's high school, Mount Carmel in Chicago, helped the family cope.

"We are so grateful and appreciative for everything they've done," Brown said. "It's amazing. You still see good in people. We feel like Pierre served his purpose on this earth because of all of the good that has come out of this."

She said her nephew always smiled and loved to go fishing with his cousin, who would get jealous at times because of Washington-Steel's skills.

"He was so disciplined, so determined in life as far as what he wanted to do," she said. "He was such a bubbly guy, so charismatic."

Every week, Washington-Steel attended services and tried to attend different churches when he could. He was a Los Angeles Lakers fan and loved watching Glenbard West High School's drum line.

"He was just a good kid, very respectful," Brown said. "If you had to pick a kid, he would be the one to make you say, 'I want my child to be just like this.'"