Newtown continues to mourn as funerals, visiting hours and wakes continue today for the victims of Friday's tragedy.
On Wednesday, funerals are scheduled for Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Caroline Previdi, and Victoria Soto. Visiting hours for Dawn Hochsprung -- the Sandy Hook Elementary School principal -- and student Chase Kowalski, whose funerals and burials will be private, will also be held today.
Charlotte Helen Bacon, 6, never met an animal she didn't love, according to her obituary. The young redhead wanted to be a veterinarian, loved wearing the color pink and was learning Tae Kwon Do with her father and brother.
"She lived life with gusto. This little girl knew how to live life," her uncle told the Wall Street Journal.
Her funeral service is scheduled for today at 1 p.m at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown, followed by burial at the Newtown Village Cemetery.
Daniel Gerard Barden, 7, was "always smiling," his parents wrote in a statement obtained by the Wall Street Journal, adding that he was "unfailingly polite, incredibly affectionate… a constant source of joy and laughter." Barden played soccer and was on the swim team, and played drums in a band with his brother and sister. His funeral will be today at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, WTNH reports.
Victims Of The Newtown School Shooting
Principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, 47, gave her life defending her students against a mass killer, rushing at the gunman in an attempt to stop him. The principal, who was married with two daughters and three grandchildren, was beloved by her community. “She treated my kids like gold,” a parent told ABC. “I’m sure she treated all of her students that way. She’s just a joy.”
Calling hours for Hochsprung are today from 3-8 p.m. at the Woodbury Funeral Home Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home. Her funeral and burial will be private.
Budding athlete Chase M. Kowalski had recently completed and won his first mini-triathlon. The 7-year-old Cub Scout ran in community races, played baseball and loved riding his bike. "He did nothing but smile," a neighbor told WSJ.
The family will receive friends from 2-6 p.m. today at Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home in Monroe, Conn. Funeral services will be private.
Caroline P. Previdi, 6, was known by some as "Silly Caroline." A neighbor told the AP that Caroline was "always wanting others to smile," and would sit with her son on the bus and try to cheer him up when he got scared. Last year, Previdi emptied out her piggy bank to give her local church money to buy Christmas presents for less fortunate children, according to the Daily Ridge.
Her funeral will be noon today at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, followed by a private burial.
Victoria "Vicki" Leigh Soto is remembered as a quick-thinking hero. The 27-year-old teacher hid her students in a closet and, when the gunman came looking for them, she told him they were in the gym, the Hartford Courant reported. Many of her students survived, though six were killed when they attempted to flee.
Soto had worked at the school for five years and was pursuing a master's degree in special education, her obituary states. She had dreamed of being a teacher since she was three years old. Her family wrote that her black lab, Roxie, "waited for her to come home every day, and is still waiting, lost without her."
Soto's funeral is scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at Lordship Community Church in Stratford, Conn., followed by a burial at Union Cemetery.