Denise Bone has managed to smile through the tears of tragedy. So, too, have her five brothers and sisters.

Denise, 21, has been the head of the Charleston household ever since the Bone family's mother and father, Malcolm and Sherrie Bone, were killed in a car crash Aug. 7 on Interstate 57 in Southeast Missouri.

Four of the Bone children were injured in the accident. The injured -- Elanna, Matt, Shennia and Ryan -- were cared for at St. Francis Medical Center.

On Thursday night, all six children were presented with the 1998 Courageous Patient Award from St. Francis Medical Center.

The award was presented at the medical center's annual dinner. Some 1,100 people attended the event at the Show Me Center, including officials from Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The bishop of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese, the Most Rev. John Leibrecht, presented the award. He praised the Bone children for their positive outlook.

"We often receive more from a patient than we give," he said.

Medical center officials said, "Despite so much tragedy, there is a glow about this family.

"When caregivers see smiles where you could expect only tears and hear cheerfulness when you'd expect despondency, many wonder to themselves just how well they could deal with what this family is coping with.

"All the care and compassion that is being poured into this family is reflected back to others," the officials said.

Medical center officials said the story of the Bone family is "an inspiring picture of courage, grace and faith."

Denise Bone thanked the nurses for their patience and the doctors for answering all her questions about her injured brothers and sisters.

St. Francis Medical Center board Chairman Harry Rediger praised the family. "You will continue to be in our prayers. You will never be forgotten at St. Francis," he said.

The medical center also handed out other awards:

-- Eleanor Nenninger, who works in the hospital's surgery department, was recognized as Employee of the Year.

-- Dottie Worley, director of surgery, received the Leadership Award.

-- Fran Rediger, wife of Harry Rediger, was named Auxilian of the Year for her service with the St. Francis Auxiliary. She co-manages the hospital's gift shop.

-- Aloysius Schoen received the Baumstark Award for his years of volunteer service -- over 12,300 hours -- to the hospital.

-- Dr. Mark Scully, a former Southeast Missouri State University president, received the Friends of St. Francis Honorary Award in recognition of his contributions to the medical center.

Magician Steve Corbitt entertained the crowd.

In their remarks, both Leibrecht and Harry Rediger addressed the on-going merger discussions between the two Cape Girardeau hospitals.

Said Rediger, "We know our days as independent, individual hospitals may be numbered."

St. Francis Medical Center is one of five Catholic hospitals in southern Missouri.

Leibrecht said, "St. Francis is the only independent Catholic hospital of the five."

He welcomed the merger talks. "It invites investigation. It invites study," he said.

However it turns out, the community will benefit, Leibrecht said.