Little Bella and Big Mike: Tinley Park Mourns Lives Lost This Week

They couldn't be more different.

One was a gentle giant of a man, a respected police officer prized for both his professionalism and tact as much as for his gregarious personality.

One was a precious little girl, her life cut short at the age of 4 when she reportedly ran into the street to chase a ball.

One will be remembered for all he has done, one for all the things she never had a chance to do.

Tinley Park lost them both this week. And we are poorer for it.

Annabella “Bella” Loerop was 4. . Her funeral is today in Orland Park, after which she will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony in Willow Springs.

The Memorial School Pre-K student did what kids do. She laughed. She played. She won first place in a Stop, Drop and Roll contest with the Tinley Park Fire Department last October.

Her tombstone will say 2006-2011.

Tinley Park police Chief Michael O'Connell was 60, also too young. . Remembered as a big man with a big heart, "Big Mike" started his career as a patrol officer in Riverdale in 1972, eventually working his way up to being police chief there. He was remembered for his warmth, his charity and his pranks on friends. ("I must have been a good friend because he got me several times," .)

He was hired as police chief here in 1995, helping see Tinley through some of its darkest days, .

Big man, little girl. They couldn't be more different.

But they will both be missed, by those whose lives they directly touched and by the community in general.

And in that, they couldn’t be more alike.