MARLBOROUGH -- Nearly 500 people packed Immaculate Conception Church yesterday to say goodbye to An Vuong, the 14-year-old girl killed 10 days ago in a car accident on a South Carolina highway.
One of An's five sisters, Mai, 16, was rolled into the church in a hospital bed by two paramedics. Mai is suffering from foot injuries sustained in the accident and is unable to walk. Her hands showed deep cuts and burns.
During the Mass, Mai held a little brown teddy bear with a purple ribbon around its neck.
Sister Loan, 10, sat in the front row of the church. She had a small horseshoe scar on her head. She was seated next to sisters Ngoc, 15, Tam, 12, Mi, 6, and her mother.
An Vuong was traveling to visit family members in Savannah, Ga., along with five sisters and parents when her mother, Bau Vuong, lost control of the family's Chevy Suburban. The vehicle spun out of control, rolling over several times. An Vuong was thrown from the SUV and died instantly. Her father sustained head injuries and remains in a medically induced coma at the Medical University of South Carolina where his condition has been upgraded to serious.
Seven priests concelebrated the Mass yesterday. While mourners took comfort in the homily, many cherished the moment Ngoc delivered the eulogy, which was written by all five sisters.
"An Vuong...most artistic, most helpful, most outgoing, most congenial, kindest," Ngoc said as faint cries could be heard throughout the church.
"These are the superlatives that her classmates selected for An. This shows us what a truly special person she was.
"An was a true friend in every sense of the word. She was so well known as a bridge between many groups of friends. Besides being my sister, An was also my good friend, as she was to all of my sisters."
For a moment, Ngoc stopped, overcome with emotion, then she continued.
"There was something about An that everyone noticed...her smile... We were lucky enough to see it every day. It could truly light up a room.An, although you will no longer be with us physically, we will know that you are here with us spiritually and in our hearts...Your life was not wasted An, we learned from you. And now as our angel in heaven, please watch over each and every one of us."
With Mayor Dennis Hunt in the lead, An's Immaculate Conception School classmates proceeded out and lined the back of the church and the aisle.
As An's casket rolled by, classmates wept, embracing one another for support.
Hundreds of cars proceeded to St. Michael's Cemetery in Hudson where a few words were said at the graveside before the service came to a close.
Family members and friends began placing single flowers on An's casket -- many reaching for purple-colored flowers, An's favorite color.
Then, as her older sister, Mai, had asked before she returned by ambulance to a Boston hospital, Loan, 10, walked up and placed the brown bear with the purple ribbon around its neck on the top of the casket.
An's mother was one of the last people to approach the casket with a flower. But as she leaned forward, she collapsed to her knees in grief. Two family friends helped her to her feet.
Back at the Immaculate Conception School, the Vuong family gathered with family and friends.
Vuong had recently graduated from eighth grade at the Immaculate Conception School and would have started her freshmen year at Hudson Catholic High School next week.
Immaculate Conception School Principal Martha McCook said the fund established for the Vuong family has raised $17,000 in just 10 days.
One of An's five sisters, Mai, 16, was rolled into the church in a hospital bed by two paramedics. Mai is suffering from foot injuries sustained in the accident and is unable to walk. Her hands showed deep cuts and burns.
During the Mass, Mai held a little brown teddy bear with a purple ribbon around its neck.
Sister Loan, 10, sat in the front row of the church. She had a small horseshoe scar on her head. She was seated next to sisters Ngoc, 15, Tam, 12, Mi, 6, and her mother.
An Vuong was traveling to visit family members in Savannah, Ga., along with five sisters and parents when her mother, Bau Vuong, lost control of the family's Chevy Suburban. The vehicle spun out of control, rolling over several times. An Vuong was thrown from the SUV and died instantly. Her father sustained head injuries and remains in a medically induced coma at the Medical University of South Carolina where his condition has been upgraded to serious.
Seven priests concelebrated the Mass yesterday. While mourners took comfort in the homily, many cherished the moment Ngoc delivered the eulogy, which was written by all five sisters.
"An Vuong...most artistic, most helpful, most outgoing, most congenial, kindest," Ngoc said as faint cries could be heard throughout the church.
"These are the superlatives that her classmates selected for An. This shows us what a truly special person she was.
"An was a true friend in every sense of the word. She was so well known as a bridge between many groups of friends. Besides being my sister, An was also my good friend, as she was to all of my sisters."
For a moment, Ngoc stopped, overcome with emotion, then she continued.
"There was something about An that everyone noticed...her smile... We were lucky enough to see it every day. It could truly light up a room.An, although you will no longer be with us physically, we will know that you are here with us spiritually and in our hearts...Your life was not wasted An, we learned from you. And now as our angel in heaven, please watch over each and every one of us."
With Mayor Dennis Hunt in the lead, An's Immaculate Conception School classmates proceeded out and lined the back of the church and the aisle.
As An's casket rolled by, classmates wept, embracing one another for support.
Hundreds of cars proceeded to St. Michael's Cemetery in Hudson where a few words were said at the graveside before the service came to a close.
Family members and friends began placing single flowers on An's casket -- many reaching for purple-colored flowers, An's favorite color.
Then, as her older sister, Mai, had asked before she returned by ambulance to a Boston hospital, Loan, 10, walked up and placed the brown bear with the purple ribbon around its neck on the top of the casket.
An's mother was one of the last people to approach the casket with a flower. But as she leaned forward, she collapsed to her knees in grief. Two family friends helped her to her feet.
Back at the Immaculate Conception School, the Vuong family gathered with family and friends.
Vuong had recently graduated from eighth grade at the Immaculate Conception School and would have started her freshmen year at Hudson Catholic High School next week.
Immaculate Conception School Principal Martha McCook said the fund established for the Vuong family has raised $17,000 in just 10 days.
MARLBOROUGH -- Nearly 500 people packed Immaculate Conception Church yesterday to say goodbye to An Vuong, the 14-year-old girl killed 10 days ago in a car accident on a South Carolina highway.
One of An's five sisters, Mai, 16, was rolled into the church in a hospital bed by two paramedics. Mai is suffering from foot injuries sustained in the accident and is unable to walk. Her hands showed deep cuts and burns.
During the Mass, Mai held a little brown teddy bear with a purple ribbon around its neck.
Sister Loan, 10, sat in the front row of the church. She had a small horseshoe scar on her head. She was seated next to sisters Ngoc, 15, Tam, 12, Mi, 6, and her mother.
An Vuong was traveling to visit family members in Savannah, Ga., along with five sisters and parents when her mother, Bau Vuong, lost control of the family's Chevy Suburban. The vehicle spun out of control, rolling over several times. An Vuong was thrown from the SUV and died instantly. Her father sustained head injuries and remains in a medically induced coma at the Medical University of South Carolina where his condition has been upgraded to serious.
Seven priests concelebrated the Mass yesterday. While mourners took comfort in the homily, many cherished the moment Ngoc delivered the eulogy, which was written by all five sisters.
"An Vuong...most artistic, most helpful, most outgoing, most congenial, kindest," Ngoc said as faint cries could be heard throughout the church.
"These are the superlatives that her classmates selected for An. This shows us what a truly special person she was.
"An was a true friend in every sense of the word. She was so well known as a bridge between many groups of friends. Besides being my sister, An was also my good friend, as she was to all of my sisters."
For a moment, Ngoc stopped, overcome with emotion, then she continued.
"There was something about An that everyone noticed...her smile... We were lucky enough to see it every day. It could truly light up a room.An, although you will no longer be with us physically, we will know that you are here with us spiritually and in our hearts...Your life was not wasted An, we learned from you. And now as our angel in heaven, please watch over each and every one of us."
With Mayor Dennis Hunt in the lead, An's Immaculate Conception School classmates proceeded out and lined the back of the church and the aisle.
As An's casket rolled by, classmates wept, embracing one another for support.
Hundreds of cars proceeded to St. Michael's Cemetery in Hudson where a few words were said at the graveside before the service came to a close.
Family members and friends began placing single flowers on An's casket -- many reaching for purple-colored flowers, An's favorite color.
Then, as her older sister, Mai, had asked before she returned by ambulance to a Boston hospital, Loan, 10, walked up and placed the brown bear with the purple ribbon around its neck on the top of the casket.
An's mother was one of the last people to approach the casket with a flower. But as she leaned forward, she collapsed to her knees in grief. Two family friends helped her to her feet.
Back at the Immaculate Conception School, the Vuong family gathered with family and friends.
Vuong had recently graduated from eighth grade at the Immaculate Conception School and would have started her freshmen year at Hudson Catholic High School next week.
Immaculate Conception School Principal Martha McCook said the fund established for the Vuong family has raised $17,000 in just 10 days.
One of An's five sisters, Mai, 16, was rolled into the church in a hospital bed by two paramedics. Mai is suffering from foot injuries sustained in the accident and is unable to walk. Her hands showed deep cuts and burns.
During the Mass, Mai held a little brown teddy bear with a purple ribbon around its neck.
Sister Loan, 10, sat in the front row of the church. She had a small horseshoe scar on her head. She was seated next to sisters Ngoc, 15, Tam, 12, Mi, 6, and her mother.
An Vuong was traveling to visit family members in Savannah, Ga., along with five sisters and parents when her mother, Bau Vuong, lost control of the family's Chevy Suburban. The vehicle spun out of control, rolling over several times. An Vuong was thrown from the SUV and died instantly. Her father sustained head injuries and remains in a medically induced coma at the Medical University of South Carolina where his condition has been upgraded to serious.
Seven priests concelebrated the Mass yesterday. While mourners took comfort in the homily, many cherished the moment Ngoc delivered the eulogy, which was written by all five sisters.
"An Vuong...most artistic, most helpful, most outgoing, most congenial, kindest," Ngoc said as faint cries could be heard throughout the church.
"These are the superlatives that her classmates selected for An. This shows us what a truly special person she was.
"An was a true friend in every sense of the word. She was so well known as a bridge between many groups of friends. Besides being my sister, An was also my good friend, as she was to all of my sisters."
For a moment, Ngoc stopped, overcome with emotion, then she continued.
"There was something about An that everyone noticed...her smile... We were lucky enough to see it every day. It could truly light up a room.An, although you will no longer be with us physically, we will know that you are here with us spiritually and in our hearts...Your life was not wasted An, we learned from you. And now as our angel in heaven, please watch over each and every one of us."
With Mayor Dennis Hunt in the lead, An's Immaculate Conception School classmates proceeded out and lined the back of the church and the aisle.
As An's casket rolled by, classmates wept, embracing one another for support.
Hundreds of cars proceeded to St. Michael's Cemetery in Hudson where a few words were said at the graveside before the service came to a close.
Family members and friends began placing single flowers on An's casket -- many reaching for purple-colored flowers, An's favorite color.
Then, as her older sister, Mai, had asked before she returned by ambulance to a Boston hospital, Loan, 10, walked up and placed the brown bear with the purple ribbon around its neck on the top of the casket.
An's mother was one of the last people to approach the casket with a flower. But as she leaned forward, she collapsed to her knees in grief. Two family friends helped her to her feet.
Back at the Immaculate Conception School, the Vuong family gathered with family and friends.
Vuong had recently graduated from eighth grade at the Immaculate Conception School and would have started her freshmen year at Hudson Catholic High School next week.
Immaculate Conception School Principal Martha McCook said the fund established for the Vuong family has raised $17,000 in just 10 days.
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