Friends Pray For US Pair Missing In Ship Disaster

Published January 19, 2012 8:00AM (EST)

WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. (AP) — Friends awaiting news of the fate of a Minnesota couple missing since last week have turned to each other for support

About 450 people attended prayer vigil Wednesday evening for Barbara and Jerry Heil the Church of St. Pius X in White Bear Lake, Minn. Peterson says

The Heil sare the only Americans unaccounted for among the more than 4,200 people aboard the Costa Concordia when it struck a reef Friday near Tuscany. Authorities have confirmed 11 people died, but only one has been identified.

Family members said in a blog posting Wednesday that they have learned the Heils are not among those passengers whose bodies were recently recovered.

Friends have described the Heils as devout Catholics who spend part of almost every day at St. Pius.


By Salon Staff

MORE FROM Salon Staff


Related Topics ------------------------------------------