Grandma Loses Grandson Who Shared Every Wednesday Breakfast with Her — His Friends Carry on the Tradition

An elderly woman was devastated when an unspeakable tragedy led to her beloved grandson's death. But in the wake of her irreparable loss and grief, she still had something to look forward to—a heartfelt tradition carried on by a group of youngsters, keeping her late grandson's memory alive.

Before late starts at Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday mornings, a group of young students frequented the Courtesy Diner or QuikTrip for breakfast. They had their regular breakfast meetings at the diner until one day in 2021 when a student named Sam Crowe, then a freshman, proudly told his friends that his grandma could cook better than that.

Consequently, the following Wednesday saw them all arriving at Peggy Winckowski's doorstep. "They told me, 'Grandma, Courtesy's got nothing on you.' So I said, next week, why don't you come to my house, and we'll have breakfast here?" recalled Winckowski. "Then, when they were all leaving, they were like, 'Grandma, what are we having for breakfast next week?"

Grandma Peggy's warm invitation to Crowe and her friends marked the initiation of a cherished tradition. The shift from the diner to Winckowski's home became a Wednesday morning routine, creating a familial and heartwarming atmosphere. As the students inquired about the menu each week, they solidified the foundation for a recurring gathering.

A little after 7 a.m., the teenagers begin to trickle into the welcoming space.

The students had been faithfully showing up at the crack of dawn from all directions for their weekly Wednesday visit since October 2021. This tradition, originating from a simple comparison of waffles, evolved into the heartwarming "Wednesday Breakfast Club" at Grandma Peggy's house.

An Unspeakable Tragedy

The breakfasts, once filled with laughter and camaraderie, continued merrily until July 2022, when an unforeseen tragedy struck, extinguishing all joy. Peggy's grandson, Crowe, a sophomore at Bishop DuBourg, met with a devastating fate in a hit-and-run incident.

The vibrant 15-year-old lost his life in an accident when the moped he was riding was struck by another vehicle. The sudden and heart-wrenching loss of such a beloved young soul left the community in mourning.

In the wake of Crowe's tragic death, grief filled every corner, and the weight of sorrow made it seem inconceivable to carry on with the weekly breakfast club. The loss of the boy who had brought so much joy to the gatherings made breakfast the last thing on anyone's mind.

However, defying the heaviness of their hearts, the very next Wednesday, and virtually every Wednesday since, the students, now arriving in numbers far greater than before, returned to Grandma Peggy's house.

Carrying on the Tradition

The resilient continuation of the breakfast club, even after the devastating loss, spoke volumes about the strength and connection within the group. Grandma Peggy, acknowledging the profound impact of her grandson's initiative, expressed, "Sam would be so proud. Look at what he started."

By 5 a.m. every Wednesday, Winckowski finds herself in the kitchen, preparing for the day's culinary undertaking. She takes out her waffle iron, cooking pans, and enough breakfast ingredients to satisfy not just a small army but around 25-30 hungry teenagers.

On November 16, 2023, the menu featured eight pounds of bacon, twenty-four eggs, and cinnamon roll waffles cooked in the waffle iron piled high onto a large baking sheet to stay warm in the oven. Accompanying these delights were bananas, apples, grapes, along with jugs of chocolate milk and Sunny D. "It is worth every minute. It fills my heart," remarked Winckowski.

A little after 7 a.m., the teenagers begin to trickle into the welcoming space. The ranks of the breakfast club have expanded this year, encompassing more Bishop DuBourg students and some of Crowe's friends from Notre Dame High School.

Owen Reynolds, a 17-year-old junior at Bishop DuBourg and Crowe's cousin and an original member of the breakfast club, emphasized the importance of continuing the tradition in 2023. "It's nice having everyone around. We tell stories (about Sam), and it makes it easier to deal with," he said.

Crowe's friends, remembering him as an outgoing teen who quickly befriended anyone, find his memory still connecting people and creating new friendships among the Bishop DuBourg and Notre Dame teens, as described by Annie Hall, a Notre Dame student. "Breakfast club brought us all together, so we can get through it together," she echoed. "Being around everyone helps us all."

For both the students and Winckowski, Wednesdays serve as a necessary salve and a time to process their shared grief. Aaron Venneman, a 17-year-old senior at Bishop DuBourg High School, attributed the sense of togetherness to Winckowski. "She shows everyone great compassion," he acknowledged.

Before embarking on their school day following their weekly Wednesday gathering, the students gather in front of the house for a group photo—a tradition upheld since the inception of the breakfast club. One of the initial group photos, featuring Crowe in the center, occupies a special place on a window ledge above the dining room table.

Expressing her desire to persist in hosting the students for as long as possible, Grandma Peggy reflects on the profound impact they have on her. "It melts my heart every time they show up," she remarked. "I've lost my 15-year-old grandson, but in his place, Sam gave me 30 extra grandbabies."

Despite the void left by Crowe's absence, the breakfast tradition not only endures but flourishes, becoming a living tribute to the enduring spirit and cherished memories of the boy who had once been at the heart of it all.

Click here to read another story about an 11-year-old boy who died following a road accident and ended up saving five lives with his organs.