LONDONDERRY — Kim Augeri told her grandmother this week that she "just met an angel."
Augeri's husband Robert was killed earlier this month while working on a highway paving project in the northbound lane of Interstate 495. It was his 31st birthday.
He left behind his young wife and four children who are struggling each day to face a future without him.
The angel Kim Augeri met is another Londonderry woman, Ola Lessard, a mother of two young girls.
"My daughter Teagan was on the bus to Moose Hill School all year with Anthony Augeri," Lessard said.
"She often talked about 'Anthony on the bus' and wanted to invite him to our home, but she didn't know his last name."
When Lessard read of Robert Augeri's death in the newspapers, she made the connection that his son Anthony was the same Anthony her daughter talked about.
"Teagan had been telling me that Anthony wasn't on the bus that week," Lessard said.
Lessard said her heart ached for Kim Augeri who lives on Pillsbury Road with her children Anthony, 6, Brooklynn, 3, and Vincenzo, 1. Robert had a fourth child, Janet, 12, prior to meeting Kim, and she lives with Robert's parents in Lowell, Mass.
"We are all close," Kim Augeri, 26, said. "We lived together at my mother and father-in-law's in Lowell until 2005 when we moved to Londonderry."
Augeri met her husband 10 years ago and they were married in August of 2001.
Augeri said she now knows that her husband and she chose a caring community in which to raise their children.
Lessard, a marketing professional who works from her home, has arranged for the Augeri family to receive a year's worth of services and goods from local businesses.
"I was walking in the orchards with my dog one day," Lessard said. "My thoughts turned to Kim and as I walked I looked down, and there were five four-leaf clovers where I was standing."
Being Irish, Lessard took this as a sign.
"I picked the clovers, pressed them and sent them to Kim in a card," Lessard said. "She didn't know me, but I thought of her and her four children."
Lessard still wanted to do more for Augeri and called Kim's mother-in-law in Lowell and asked if it would be all right to ask for help from local businesses.
"She said, 'You're the one who sent Kim the clovers,'" Lessard said.
"So, I started with what I thought the family could use the most — heating oil."
Lessard said she was overwhelmed by the generosity of the businesses she approached for what she called The First Year Fund.
"Fred Fuller Oil donated an entire year of fuel," she said. "He said his own father died when he was 16 and he was happy to help."
Others had similar stories.
Donna Hasher of the Learning Path in Derry, too, lost her father at an early age. She offered daycare for the children for up to three days a week for the coming year.
"It snowballed," Lessard said. "When I called one business, they would think of someone else to call."
Lessard enlisted the help of another mother and local artist, Lisa Griffin, to create a binder that lists all of the donations by categories with pockets for coupons and flyers.
She brought the binder to Augeri on Monday.
"I just keep looking at it," Augeri said, her eyes filling with tears.
"It has lifted a lot of worries from me. There are so many things I wouldn't even think of that I might need."
Lessard said the idea of The First Year Fund will allow Augeri time to heal and take care of her family. In addition to the oil and day care, there are offerings for dental services, haircuts, meals and things to do with the children.
"I really want to give all the credit to the businesses," Lessard said. "They really came through for this family."
In the front of the binder Augeri has placed the card with the five four-leaf clovers.
"This is one of the first cards I received from someone in the community," she said.
"It is so special to me."
BOX
The following businesses have offered services and goods The First Year Fund:
Fred Fuller Oil Company, Hudson%Heating oil for one year
The Learning Path, Derry%Daycare for coming year
Sparkling Images House Cleaning Services%House cleaning up to twice a month for a year
Integrity Health, Londonderry%One-year membership
Salon Bogar%Haircuts for one year for family
Medusa Hair & Nails, Manchester%Haircuts for one year for family
New Look Dental, Hudson%Dental cleanings for one year for family
Matt's Landscaping, Londonderry%Lawn and landscaping needs
Patriot Landscaping, Londonderry%Snow plowing all winter
Heritage Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Derry%Up to $1000 credit for one year
Shaw's Supermarket%Baby care products
Sportshoe Center, Londonderry%Two pairs of shoes for each child
Bill Basler, CPA, Londonderry%Accounting services
MLANS Inc., Londonderry%One year of home computer support
Cafe Teresa, Londonderry%A family meal once a month for a year
Wrap Shak%$100 gift certificate
Mack's Farm Stand, Londonderry%30 ice cream cones
Mr. Steer, Londonderry%$50 gift certificate
Dunkin Donuts, Londonderry%$50 gift certificate
Vincenzo's Trattoria, Londonderry%$10 gift certificate
Water Country, Portsmouth%12 full-day passes
Liquid Planet Water Park, Candia%Family season pass
Apple Tree Cinema 12, Londonderry%25 movie passes and $40 gift card
For Kids Who Cook, Derry%Cooking classes
Lucky 7 Stables, Londonderry%$140 gift certificate
Discovery Stop, Londonderry%Six passes
Londonderry Youth Soccer Association%Full scholarship for Anthony to play soccer on a U8 team
Ford of Londonderry%Six oil changes for vehicle(s) for a year
