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The city of Takoma Park got a little greener as members of the recreation department invited city staff and community members to a tree-dedication ceremony behind the Takoma Park Community Center Oct. 21 in memory of Corinne Marie Bell, a former recreation employee who died unexpectedly in July.

Bell, who was 21, suffered from severe asthma throughout her life and, following a massive allergic reaction and asthma attack July 12, died in her 17-year-old sister's arms at her Takoma Park home, according to her mother, Sandra Coles-Bell.

The tree, a 3-foot crape myrtle, was the gregarious Bell's favorite and is easily recognized by its shrub-like shape and rosy pink flowers. Facilities Manager Eric Rasch had originally planned to plant a different tree, but decided on the myrtle after meeting with Coles-Bell, who spoke at the dedication with the support of family and friends.

"I can't tell you what this feels like, to have a young daughter who was only 21 recognized by the city like this," Coles-Bell said, speaking through tears. "It's not going to be hard anymore to come to the library or the recreation center, because I have a little bit of [Corinne] here, now."

Coles-Bell said that, while she lost a treasured daughter and beloved family member, she was glad to see the impact Bell had on Takoma Park, evidenced by the many staff, children and community members who attended the dedication. During the two years she worked for the recreation department, where she started in 2007, Bell earned the love of her co-workers with her perpetually positive outlook and delightful antics, as well as her devotion to youth programs as the instructor of a youth knitting class.

"Her smile and her attitude toward life would probably be the first two things that would get you if you'd never met her before," said Carey Antoszewski, the department's school-age programs director who helped Bell set up the "Knitter Bugs" class.

At the ceremony, Antoszewski and Leicia Monfort, an administrative assistant in the department, read Bell's "bucket list" of things she wanted to do before she died. The list, which included "driving through the desert" and "telling you all what I really think," inspired both chuckles and serious thought from those present. Antoszewski said she plans to write her own list soon, while Bell's family attested to her accomplishments from the list before she died.

"She was a straight shooter; she told you her opinion and told you what it was," remembered Eric Coles, Bell's older brother. "She was also supercreative and very talented. She was into crafts."

Coles-Bell related how her daughter's passion for hand-crafting purses and handbags — often from unconventional materials such as empty Cheetos bags — allowed her to accomplish another of the points on the list: to have a stranger comment on her style, only to realize Bell had made it herself.

"We were in Giant one time and a woman walked up to her and said ‘that's such a beautiful purse!'" Coles-Bell said, laughing. "She just thought it was wonderful, and Corinne turned to me with this look like, ‘See?'"