FORT WAYNE, IN — A farewell card circulated last Sunday at Cornerstone Fellowship Church for the departing Kowalski family contained 34 signatures, two Bible verses written in different handwriting, and a hand-drawn lighthouse, despite the fact that investigators have confirmed at least 29 of the signers cannot identify the Kowalskis by sight.

The card, a large-format Hallmark featuring a scenic country road, was passed down the third row during announcements by head greeter Donna Pfeiffer, 61, who described the family as “wonderful people who sat somewhere in the middle section.” It reached the back row in approximately four minutes.

“I signed it because Donna handed it to me and there was still blank space,” said Todd Armentrout, 47, a Sunday school teacher who placed the Kowalskis’ last name as “maybe Polish?” when pressed. “I wrote ‘You will be missed’ because that felt true in a general sense.”

“Blessings on your next chapter” was written four separate times by four different people, none of whom had spoken to the family.

Marcus Kowalski, 38, who received the card at a brief reception following the service, said he was “genuinely moved” and recognized approximately five of the names. His wife, Jennifer, 36, recognized three. Neither could identify Phil.

Church administrator Renata Solis, 52, confirmed the card tradition has operated continuously since 1994 and noted that participation is “honestly its own form of community.”

At press time, a welcome card for an incoming family was already circulating, with eleven signatures collected before anyone had confirmed the family had actually decided to attend.