Update, 3:23 p.m., Dec. 17
Rabbi Jacob Mendelson, the spiritual leader of Congregation Bikur Cholim of Bridgeport, attended the funeral of Noah Pozner earlier today in Fairfield.
He came to pay his respects because "I have grandchildren," he explained. "That's why I'm here. I must be here."
Mendelson extended condolences from his congregation to all those who were affected by Friday's tragedy.
"The sadness is impossible to describe," he said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families who lost loved ones."
Update at 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 17
Gene Zingaro and his 11-year-old son Jack attended an earlier service for Jack Pinto, a 6-year-old who was killed in the Sandy Hook School shooting. They were walking along Main Street in Newtown around the time of Jack Pinto's funeral service today.
Jack Zingaro was on Jack Pinto's wrestling team, but they hadn't known each other long.
"He was a new wrestler," said Gene, a local attorney. "And wrestling season had just started."
Still, they attended the service this morning to show solidarity with the wrestling team and support Pinto's older brother Ben.
"Closure? No," he shakes his head. "Our town is going to be before and after 12/14."
"I think it's an important part of the step for the families ... I'm one of the Newtown parents who has his children home. We're fortunate. We're more appreciative. I'll appreciate every moment I have with him until he goes off to college, or wherever he's going."
Also walking along Main Street was Buddy Holland and his mother, Rose. The Newtown residents decided not to attend Pinto's service today.
"It's the family. Friends and family," Buddy said. "But anything else I can do to support people in this time, I'll do anything I can do ... A funeral is never anything that's easy to go through. Never. Whether it's a 100 year-old man or woman ... But when it's a young child whose life was taken from them in such a heinous way, that hurts. I don't care who you are. That hurts."
Update at 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 17:
There are close to 100 mourners at 6-year-old Noah Pozner's funeral in Fairfield, including Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and a rabbi who drove three hours from Catskills, NY, to show support.
The original report follows:
Lines are forming outside funeral homes in Newtown, Fairfield and Monroe as people assemble to pay their respects to three 6-year-olds who were among the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14.
In Newtown, services for Jack Pinto, 6, are set to start at 1 p.m. at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown; burial will follow in Newtown Village Cemetery.
About 20 miles south, mourners are gathering at the Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home in Fairfield for services of Noah Pozner, 6. Burial is set to follow at B'nai Israel Cemetery, Monroe.
A wake is also scheduled today in Monroe for from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., at the Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home in Monroe. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Mattioli's life will be held on Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Darien.
The three 6-year-olds are the first of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting to be laid to rest. Funeral services for the other victims will take place tomorrow and Wednesday.
Please use the comments section below to pay your respects.
I know what you are going through...I know the heartbreaking loss you feel today. I am going to plead with all of you to not let this loss turn your hearts cold....do not turn from God for this loss. Keep your faith and love of the Lord even stronger. The Lord stated that he knew each of us before we took our first breath...and like the hairs on our heads that our days and breaths are numbered. So as heartbreaking and shocking as this time in your life is now. A time will come when you will be able to smile again. God said we are supposed to cry at births and rejoice at death. I know that none of you can feel like that at this moment. However, these beautiful young angels do not want you to be sad. They would rather see that their life brought you nothing but love, and wonderful memories, even though it was for only a short time. God Bless All!
I am a mother of boy/girl twins that just turned 7 last month. I can not imagine their bond being broken or either one of them taken from me so young and so tragically. Lean on each other for support and strength and know the world has you in their hearts if it helps even just a little. I am so very sorry for your loss. They are all chasing butterflies now, giggling and playing together while God watches over them and you. They are not alone and they are not afraid. They don't recall how they got to heaven but they know it is a comforting place where they are filled with your love for them. Go on living for them to honor them. Til you meet again.
children stormed heaven's gate. Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there. They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say. They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day. "Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse. "This is heaven" declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house". When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near. He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. Then He opened His arms and He called them by name. And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring, those children all flew into the arms of their King and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, one small girl turned and looked at Jesus 'face. And as if He could read all the questions she had He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad. continued..................................... "
of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe, then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, "Let My power and presence re-enter this land! "May this country be delivered from the hands of fools" "I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools! "Then He and the children stood up without a sound. "Come now my children let me show you around. "Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran. All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can. And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, "in the midst of this darkness," I AM STILL THE LIGHT."