Sandra Cantu #3 4/15/09 -4/27/09

[klaasend]

Chaplin Don Higgins:


The drawings, the cards, the letters are special to the family. Talking about the thousands they received. He says they gave the family strength and love and comfort.

He is showing and reading a few.

[FishstickKitty]

Thank goodness I am at work and can't stream today.
I'm glad to see it's so beautiful though.

[klaasend]

[no rose colored glasses]

I cannot control my emotions at all, this memorial was absolutely simple and beautiful, the montage of pics of Sandra and music was wonderful. Beautiful child Rest In Peace. I am dying in side for her family.

[califmom]

A moment of silence...

[pink angel]

He said he was asked to talk to the children about the fear they may have (the family asked him)

They said do not fear. They know what a community would do to save one soul.

What the community did speaks of courage and compassion, not fear.

There is no horror in heaven. Sandra is smiling and giving hugs, and checking in on Jesus to see if he needs anything.

[pink angel]

Sandra's family desires you to leave today with  joy and hope not sorrow and sadness.

Sandra is skipping away on the streets of heaven.

[califmom]

My thoughts and prayers are with Sandra's family.  Such a beautiful girl.

What a beautiful memorial. 

[klaasend]

Simply beautiful

[Tracygirl]

So beautiful. 

[numbersgirl]

I cannot control my emotions at all, this memorial was absolutely simple and beautiful, the montage of pics of Sandra and music was wonderful. Beautiful child Rest In Peace. I am dying in side for her family.

                                                       

Me too, Rosie.

[Tams]

I respectfully say that I have not cried that hard in a long time. Cannot even begin to imagine the deep grief that this family, those close to them, and those that have had to deal with this tragedy first hand are feeling.

It further instills that we CANNOT stop digging until we uncover EVERYONE involved in any way shape or form in this despicable crime, and get them off of the streets and away from our precious children.

[califmom]

Everyone hug your loved ones today!!  I just did!! 

Off to work I go.  BBL

[pink angel]

Sandra's Parents

[Tamikosmom]

Thank you Klaas.

Sandra Cantu's memorial was truly honoring to her short life in every way.

Janet

[O4Bull]

Thank you Sandra, for sharing your short time here with me.  I will never forget you, how I wish you hadn't suffered.  I hope God makes up for stuff like that in Heaven, and I hope he grants your family all the grace and mercy he has to get them through the rest of their lives without you. 

[Maven]

That was a beautiful service. Seeing her family breaks my heart.

May Tracy's angel rest in peace 

[klaasend]

http://www.kcra.com/news/19200425/detail.html

Thousands Mourn 'Tracy's Angel' At Memorial
Sandra Cantu's Body Arrives In Horse-Drawn Carriage

POSTED: 1:13 pm PDT April 16, 2009
UPDATED: 2:41 pm PDT April 16, 2009


TRACY, Calif. -- Sandra Cantu was remembered Thursday as a happy, spirited girl whose life was taken too soon and has been named "Tracy's angel."

Thousands of mourners processed into Merrill F. West High School gym Thursday afternoon to pay tribute to the life of 8-year-old Cantu. The service, which was called "A Celebration of Life," was intended to help local residents heal after weeks of heart-wrenching nationwide news coverage of the child's disappearance and slaying.

Video: Many Line Up Early For Cantu Service

Cantu's body, which was placed inside a small casket, was brought to the memorial inside a horse-drawn carriage.

The girl's father, Daniel Cantu, entered the gym wearing a black shirt with Sandra Cantu's image on the back that said "You Are Free."

Afterward, Sandra Cantu's mother, Maria Chavez, entered with her family members as a harpist on stage played a somber tune.

Among the speakers included U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, Tracy Mayor Brent Ives, Tracy Chief of Police Janet Thiessen and Cantu's aunt, Angie Chavez.

Don Higgins, chaplain for the Tracy Police Department, said that the community has suffered and must take steps to start the healing process.

"For this time, lay down your judgment, your bitterness, your rage, so that our remembrance is done in love and dignity," Higgins said.

Boxer said she learned that Cantu was a "happy, friendly girl" who loved to "do cartwheels and play with her friends."

"And her sister Simone simply called her an 'awesome sister,'" Boxer said.

Brown stressed that although Tracy suffered a great loss with Cantu's death, it would make the community stronger.

"We're a society that doesn't talk about death very often, yet each one of us will face our own at some point. ... But when a child dies ... what can we take from it? When we celebrate the life of this beautiful and wonderful child, Sandra, I would just say this. When we think about life, we have to also think about aliveness. Because this child embodied aliveness. And though we can't bring that back, we can appreciate it in each other," Brown said."

Tracy Mayor Brent Ives said "the community will forever be changed" by Cantu's death and Tracy City Councilman Steve Abercrombie said, "the hurt from this event will never go away."

"How do we prevent this from happening again? It is important as a community to protect our children. We must all realize that they are our future, as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. The challenge for us is to make that a reality. The only suggestions I have is to hug your children daily and tell them how much you love them every day. Cherish every moment you get to spend with your kids," Abercrombie said.

Sandra liked "girly things" and wearing pink, said Jacobsen Elementary School principal Cindy Sasser.

Angie Chavez said her niece was eager to share her love and had "arms of an angel."

"When she told you, 'I love you,' on your heart she would tug," Chavez said.

Chavez thanked several organizations, including the California Highway Patrol, the Tracy Police Department, the Modesto Police Department, the Tracy Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the San Joaquin Sheriff's Department, Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation, search teams, volunteers and people who attended the vigils.

The gym seats about 2,600 people. Other mourners were seated outside in an overflow area.

Cantu's body was found April 6 in a suitcase in an irrigation pond north of Tracy. The girl disappeared on March 27 from Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, where she lived with her family.

Cantu's neighbor, Melissa Huckaby, has been charged with the girl's death and may ultimately face the death penalty.

Tracy police are searching for any other possible victims of Huckaby, who served as a Sunday school teacher at Clover Road Baptist Church.

[pink angel]

Thank you for all the pictures klaas!

It was a beautiful service.


I thought it was touching that the funeral home donated her casket and the private service. (along with her horse drawn ride)

I wish I would have caught their name. I am going to write them a letter.

[4getUnot]

Thanks Klass for the live stream....

Ty Tams for you comment on the suitcase.

Wyks I read parts of that horror of horror story.  Still shocked by that horror.  Hope that's not whats going on in Tracy.

Now I'm an emotional mess and will probably have to sign off for awhile.... That was such a beautiful tribute.............