"Their death resembles the fall of a young tree apparently in the full bloom of health. The fall of such a tree comes as a complete surprise. When people die like that we are deeply shocked and saddened. It doesn't make sense," added Father Jerzy to a magnificently beautiful church full of family, friends and saddened members of what seems to be a tight-knit community, "It doesn't seem fair. Their work is cut short, their plans are reduced to rubble and everything is thrown into confusion. We are left with a terrible sense of loss. We are not made of stone, but of very fragile material. Life can be taken from us in the twinkling of any eye," he added as we stood in the cry room, an area in the far recesses of the church, aptly named for a place where infants can be taken to cry, but a place in which tears filled the eyes of full-grown adults devastated by the eery turn of events of Thursday, June 19th.
The church choir intermittently sang hymns in a manner which reminded all present of the beauty of youth and the sounds of angels, angels which Adira and Andy Briseños friends said they had become to them.
"Even though they are in a better place, I'll never forget them and the fun times we had growing up," said one of Andy's young friends , remembering lively times and even a trip to South Padre Island he had taken with the siblings and their mother Jessica, times one may take for granted, yet memories that will stand the test of time, brief moments that stay with you forever.
"Adira was there for me when no one else was," said a young friend of Adira's who also shared her angelic voice in the church choir, "She didn't care who you were, how you looked, whether you were skinny or fat, pretty or popular. I will never forget her and I make it my death promise to remember her every day even though I knew her for a short time," said another one of the young girl's friends.
"I remember we used to push her off the porch, then she would wait, but she would get us back and we would be there crying together," stated yet another one of Andy and Adira's childhood friends.
Another member of the Carmona Family swore they would be there for Jessica and the sincerity in his voice could be felt through the entire church as his words rang true on the microphone, "They were happy children, funny kids and playful. I can only remember them running up to me and hugging me every time I saw them and we will never, ever forget them."
"Jesus was aware of the uncertainty of life. His Parable stresses the fact that death can surprise us at any moment. It's not that God tries to catch us unaware, that would be unthinkable. Even though death may come to us like a thief in the night. Jesus doesn't come to us like that. He is our Savior and our Brother. He comes to take us to the waiting Kingdom of Heaven."
"Today we are praying for Jessica, for members of the family and for us too because brothers and sisters, we are feeling the same as you. We have words with faith, with love, but we're feeling the same."
This is when Father Jerzy asked all gathered to say a special prayer before the Holy Rosary was said in their honor, "We are asking our Mother, the Mother of Jesus to watch over our brother Andy and our sister Adira ."
Bishop James A. Tamayo made a special appearance on Tuesday at their funeral which was also held at Our Lady of Guadalupe whose part in this event was immeasurable and whose sanctity will be ever remembered and made all the holier by the memories shared and the angels they've sanctified on this day.
Rest in Peace Adira and Andy. You will truly be missed.