Oct
15
As dozens gathered Wednesday night in the Lake Worth High School auditorium, the life of Banny Galicia was remembered through words, pictures and videos.
Some struggled to hold back tears and others consoled each other with hugs as they mourned Galicia, a 21-year-old Palm Beach State College student who died Tuesday evening when a small plane crashed into her home as she was sleeping.
Bruce Bennett
Authorities say Dan Shalloway, a local engineer, also died when the plane he was piloting crashed in the Mar Mak Colony Club mobile home community in suburban Lake Worth.
As family and friends of Galicia reflected on her life, they recalled her kindness and compassion for others. The service — conducted mostly in Spanish — included remarks from Galicia’s older sister, Juri.
Neivy Vasquez remembered Galicia’s involvement as a youth group counselor at the Monte De Los Olivos church in Palm Springs.
Bruce Bennett
Vasquez said her last memory of Galicia was her involvement with an event for children at a beach in Jupiter. Galicia helped organize games and other activities for the children.
“We were playing, we made games for all the young kids. That’s the best memory I have of her,” Vasquez said.
Vasquez said it was hard to describe the pain she felt over Galicia’s death.
When I saw the news, I (thought) ‘This is not real,’ ” she said. “I was so surprised when I saw the news. I couldn’t believe it was her. It was a big tragedy for all of us.”
Yaiza Velez, who attended Lake Worth High with Galicia, fought back tears as she spoke outside the school’s auditorium. Galicia graduated from Lake Worth High in 2013, where she spent two years enrolled in the school’s criminal justice academy, according to school officials.
“She was a really great person,” Velez said. “She was smart, she was funny and she was very caring … She was really nice to everyone.”
Velez said she went to the vigil to seek comfort with others who knew her.
“My heart hurts really bad because I hadn’t spoken to her in a while,” Velez said.
Said Vasquez: “She was so special, she was a really nice person, so that’s why I came here. We are here to help the family, to support the family.”
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