Sadness flooded storm-ravaged Southeast Texas Saturday as funerals began for the victims found dead in Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic wake. Benito Juarez…
Sadness flooded storm-ravaged Southeast Texas Saturday as funerals began for the victims found dead in Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic wake.
Benito Juarez Cavazos was the first victim memorialized, with a service Friday night in Houston. The body of the 42-year-old auto-body shop worker, who came to the U. S. from Mexico illegally 28 years ago, was found Tuesday in a parking lot near a Houston freeway after floodwaters receded.
Cavazos had recently received a work permit, and was scheduled for an appointment the next day to help him get permanent residency, his cousins said at the service.
“It’s very unfortunate that right when he finally had hopes of being able to maybe go to Mexico soon to go see his family it all went downhill, ” his cousin, Maria Cavazos, said.
Cavazos’ funeral was the first for the at least 47 people found dead this week. Dozens more are missing.
Funerals for at least three more victims were scheduled for Saturday.
Andrew Pasek, a 25-year-old from Houston, was electrocuted by a live wire in murky water Tuesday as he tried to save his sister’s cat.
“Don’ t touch me. I’ m dying, ” Pasek told his friend in his final moments.
His family has already raised $47,356 via a GoFundMe account they set up to cover his funeral expenses.
Ola Mae Winfrey-Crooks, 82, will be buried in Huntsville. She drowned in her car near the San Jacinto River north of Houston Tuesday apparently trying to cross a flooded bridge, authorities said.
Friends and family of Ruben Jordan, 58, a longtime high school track and football coach, were gathering for his funeral in Tyler, Texas.
Funeral arrangements for the six family members found dead in a flooded van on Wednesday has yet to be announced. A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe account to cover their funeral expenses. It’s already exceeded its goal by more than $14,000.
With Post wires
