Staff writer
Anita Hancock dedicated “Lovin’ Kindness,” her last time as a director at a Marion school Thursday to her sister Carol Post.
Hancock learned of Post’s death April 27 only minutes before she was set to have a rehearsal with the third and fourth grades for their performance, which was two days away. Hancock’s assistants pleaded with her to cancel rehearsal that day.
“No, I have to do it,” she said.
She explained to her students:
“I have just received some very bad news. My one and only sister has just passed away. During some of the songs, you may see me cry. We can do everything, even though I feel really sad right now.”
Hancock also told her students about Joannie Rochette, the Canadian figure skater, who performed a medal-winning routine days after her mother died suddenly of a heart attack.
“It was a very good rehearsal,” Hancock said.
The performance of “Lovin’ Kindness” — a set of songs involving rapping, singing, and acting — went off without a hitch, even though the performance held a lot of emotion for Hancock.
Hancock did what she has done for 21 years at all three Marion schools: she directed the program and mouthed the words, assisting more than one nervous elementary school rapper.
“My sister would have loved to be here,” Hancock said. “She loved music so much.”
After the performance, the third- and fourth-grade students held up banners (signed by the students) that read, “Thank you Mrs. Hancock, we will miss you.
“It was very heart warming. It shows me that all the students love me,” Hancock said. “I’m going to miss the children. I’m going to miss the love that they give me.”
Hancock will continue to teach voice and piano privately.
Hancock also received two bouquets of flowers after the show — one of them was from her sister.
“Oh my goodness. Unbelievable,” Hancock said when she found out. “She ordered them and knew they’d get to me whether she lived or died.”