A 12-year-old-girl who died when her home was completely destroyed in a gas explosion has been farewelled by hundreds at her funeral.
Linda Rogers, known as ‘Michellita’ to her friends, was killed in her house on Espanola Drive in Dallas last Friday and four of her family injured.
Firefighters found the six grader in her father Jose Fiscal’s arms and tried desperately to save her, but she died at the scene.
Linda Rogers, 12, who died when her home was completely destroyed in a gas explosion has been farewelled by hundreds at her funeral
Her father Jose Fiscal was pictured standing distraught over his daughter’s body as it lay in an open casket, his left cheek still bandaged from the explosion six days earlier
Mourners crammed into Park Cities Presbyterian Church on Thursday night after the service was moved there from her home church because it was too small.
Mr Fiscal was pictured standing distraught over his daughter’s body as it lay in an open casket, his left cheek still bandaged from the explosion six days earlier.
Among the mourners were Linda’s heartbroken teammates from Uplift Williams Preparatory School’s Falcons Elite cheer squad.
‘I just don’t understand, why her? She was the most innocent person you ever met,’ her former cheerleading partner Emiliano Vanegas told NBC5.
”It’s like she was just a bundle of joy. Shes what the word cheerleading means, she was always cheerful.’
Her house on Espanola Drive in Dallas was completely destroyed by the explosion last Friday
Pictures and mementos line a memory table during the memorial service and viewing
Many of the mourners were young classmates from Uplift Williams Preparatory School where she was part of the cheer squad
‘The times I’ve been with her I’ve been really happy. Now I don’t know what I’m gonna do, because she’s not with me anymore,’ her friend Itzel Salzaer said through tears.
Linda’s cheer coach LaToya Gibson said the little girl, who just turned 12 in January, rushed to the hospital after the explosion, only to find it was too late.
‘She was an amazing kid. Fun and sassy and she kept me on my toes all the time. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and it was a dream,’ she said.
Earlier in the week her mother spoke in Spanish to hundreds of classmates and wellwishers at a prayer vigil.
She said her daughter was exceptional, and asked for payers and for everyone to love each other more, just like Linda did.
‘She was an amazing kid. Fun and sassy and she kept me on my toes all the time. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and it was a dream,’ her cheer coach said
Linda’s Jennifer Cortez set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to replace the family home and pay for medical and funeral expenses
‘I just don’t understand, why her? She was the most innocent person you ever met,’ her former cheerleading partner said
Linda’s Jennifer Cortez set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to replace the family home and pay for medical and funeral expenses.
She said the girl’s mother, father, grandmother, and sibling were all injured in the explosion.
‘Michellita gave love to everyone that would cross her path. She was outspoken and loved cheerleading,’ she wrote.
‘In addition to the fatality, the house was completely destroyed and has left us heart broken and displaced. My family has lost everything.’
The Falcon Elites were supposed to compete in a competition on Friday night, and her teammates performed in her memory.
Earlier in the week her mother spoke in Spanish to hundreds of classmates and wellwishers at a prayer vigil, supported by her husband Mr Fiscal
Cheer squad teammates shed tears as they offered prayed for their departed friend
Gas services to 2,800 Dallas homes were cut off again on Thursday while the cause of the explosion and two gas-related fires within half a mile were investigated.
Atmos Energy said services would be down for about three weeks where gas lines were replaced and other work was done by more than 120 crews.
Atmos, the country’s largest natural gas distributor, would compensate residents who choose to stay in hotels or incur other expenses during the disruption.
The National Transportation and Safety Board said it would be sending a team to investigate.
Gas services to 2,800 Dallas homes were cut off again on Thursday while the cause of the explosion and two gas-related fires within half a mile were investigated