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Mourners from Crystal Lake and beyond plan to say their goodbyes Friday to AJ Freund

Thousands of mourners from McHenry County and beyond are expected Friday at a memorial visitation for Andrew “AJ” Freund, the 5-year-old Crystal Lake boy who was killed last month and whose parents are charged in his death.

The visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Illinois Highway 176), Crystal Lake.

Organizers said overflow parking will be available at Willow Creek Community Church, 100 S. Main St., in Crystal Lake, with bus service to and from the funeral home.

“There has been an outpouring of donations and people wanting to help,” funeral director Kim Nordin said.

The funeral home is providing its services at no cost, Nordin said. Among others pitching in, she said, are Office Max in Crystal Lake, which is providing the prayer cards, and Countryside Flower Shop, also in Crystal Lake, which is donating some of the main floral pieces. Rosati’s Pizza and Texas Roadhouse in Crystal Lake are donating food for family, police and volunteers. Jewel in Crystal Lake is donating water and food, Nordin said.

AJ is being mourned by strangers, locally and from across the country.

Nordin said she has received calls from people across the country including Arizona, New York and Wisconsin who say they are sending flowers for the services.

One local woman has crocheted angels and another has created lapel pins in honor of AJ that they will give out at the services.

Marjorie Lehmann, director of administration at Trappist Caskets of Peosta, Iowa, said the business is donating an oak casket, made by monks of the New Melleray Abbey child casket ministry.

The Abbey also will plant a tree in AJ’s name to replenish the wood used to make his casket.

Crystal Lake Deputy police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said an honor guard will stand at the boy’s casket throughout the visitation.

“(So) someone is protecting him because those who were supposed to didn’t,” Kotlowski said.

Kotlowski also asked that mourners who attend Friday’s services be patient and respectful.

AJ was reported missing by his parents April 18. He was found buried in a shallow field near Woodstock a week later. His parents, Andrew Freund and JoAnn Cunningham, have been charged with murder and are being held in McHenry County Jail in lieu of $5 million bail.

AJ is remembered in an online obituary as a doting and loving big brother to his 4-year-old brother and his mother’s unborn child. He is described as “loving, affectionate and outgoing … a virtual ray of sunshine to all who knew him, with a giggle and laugh that was uniquely his.”

An online account remains active to raise money for AJ’s siblings. As of Wednesday it had raised more than $58,000.

Donations may be made at https://www.gofundme.com/d62g4d-rest-in-peace-aj.

The funeral for AJ will be private.

Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.

MORE COVERAGE OF AJ FREUND’S DEATH