Community Corner

Westfield's Terry DiFalco's Family Pleads Public To Respect Privacy

Since the teen was tragically killed some have posted sensational and/or speculative comments that are insensitive, the DiFalco family says.

WESTFIELD, NJ — The family of Terry DiFalco, who was tragically killed when she was struck by a N.J. State Police trooper's vehicle on March 4, is pleading with the public to respect their privacy.

"The DiFalco family has been overwhelmed by the community’s support. However, they have reached out to me to ask that I communicate their most deepest plea that, out of respect for their privacy and to Terry’s memory, individuals immediately stop distributing stories, photos, theories, and private information on social media and otherwise," Westfield Mayor Andy Skibitsky wrote in a letter to the public.

"Many people who are not associated with the DiFalco family or who are not familiar with any facts in this matter are posting sensational and/or speculative comments that the family finds insensitive and they do not want her image exploited in this way. The family will be removing her Instagram and Facebook pages and requests that no one repost anything if they had access," Skibitsky continued.

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The family asks that instead if someone wishes to respectfully show the DiFalco family their support and honor Terry’s life, to make donations in her name to: Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss www.imaginenj.org and/or The Wounded Warriors Project http://bit.ly/2mgosxG.

The Westfield Police Department and the Union County Prosecutor’s office are still jointly conducting the accident investigation.

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"Though we are all emotional at this time, the Town must act on the facts and not on emotion alone. Please honor the family’s request and stop distributing private information and uninformed suppositions. I know the community does not want to impose any additional heartache on Terry’s family," Skibitsky said.

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