Point Reyes Light - November 20, 2003

500 attend funeral for W. Marin School pupils

By Ivan Gale

More than 500 people attended a funeral mass at Sacred Heart Church Tuesday to remember Gabriela ("Gabby") and Marisol Telles. The sisters, 4th graders at West Marin School, died as a result of a car crash just east of Point Reyes Station Nov. 7.

Father John O’Neill read the mass in both Spanish and English. In front of a somber crowd, who were diverse in age and ethnic background, he subsequently laid the girls’ to rest at Olema Cemetery

During the service Guadulupe García, the girls’ grandmother and driver of the car that crashed, sat in a wheelchair next to her husband, Salvador, her face scarred from recent surgeries.

The couple’s surviving grandchildren, for whom they are guardians, were seated with the grandparents. They include Angela Telles, 4, Juan Telles, 7, Victor Telles, 11, and Luis Telles, 13, .

West Marin School principal Jim Patterson said the two sisters were "always happy" and thanked Guadalupe and Salvador García for "giving them everything they needed."

When the two girls first attended his school, they were shy, Patterson said, but in time they grew to be outgoing and self-confident.

Following the service, sheriff’s deputies and the Highway Patrol escorted the funeral procession to Olema Cemetery.

At the cemetery, Father O’Neill spoke to more than 50 children standing by the graves to be near their classmates one last time. Gently, the students threw carnations down onto the coffins.

The two sisters were buried next to each other in a section of the cemetery devoted to children.

A reception at the Red Barn in Point Reyes Station followed the services.

Donations

Guadalupe García, the injured grandmother, had been the main wage earner, and donations to help surviving family members can be sent to the Bank of Petaluma in Point Reyes Station, care of the Garcia-Telles family.

Proceeds from a set of gift cards featuring drawings of desserts by West Marin School students, including drawings by Marisol Telles, will also go to the Telles-Garcia family.

The gift-card is for sale in Point Reyes Station at West Marin School, Toby’s Feed Barn, and the Bovine Bakery; in Inverness, at Bellwether Gift Shop.

In addition, a community fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, in the new gym of West Marin School. The event will feature food and live music.

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