JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Students, teachers and church members poured out of a chapel at Bishop John J. Snyder High School comforting each other after losing a loving member of the catholic community.
“We felt that we had to give them love and support and Patrick had to know that his family, the BJS family, would be with him at this moment,” said Bishop John Snyder.
Bishop Snyder is the namesake for the school. He led about 150 people through a morning Mass honoring mother of seven, Serafina Kinnare. The school held an hour-long prayer at the same time as her funeral. Friend Kelly Brown couldn't make the trip to Connecticut for Serafina's service but says the Mass helped bring closure to Serafina's Florida family.
“Very beautiful and poignant to think about all of us across from north to south, all of us lifting up on our prayers and the thoughts for them,” said Brown.
Serafina and her family were vacationing in Pennsylvania last week when their van was smashed by a dump truck. Serafina was ejected from the van and died at the scene. Her husband, Patrick, and their seven children survived the horrific crash.
"I think all of us were stunned and our heads and our hearts were spinning,” said Bishop Snyder.
The school has received hundreds of donations from the community to help support Patrick and the kids.
