Funeral held for victim of Hofstra home invasion

From the USA Today

"The Rev. Osvaldo Franklin, speaking in both Portuguese and English, told the near-capacity crowd at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., that the 21-year-old Hofstra University junior killed last week during a home invasion gone bad would have been pleased to see so many of her friends and family gathered to say farewell.

Family members, including Andrea's twin sister, Jessica, sat mostly in silence during the morning Mass, gripping tissues and each other's hands. A few sobs could be heard from the attendees, many of whom had come to Sleepy Hollow from Hofstra

"During this tragedy, a question comes to mind, why? Why?" Franklin said. "Why Andrea? In the flower of her youth, she left us. She was a good daughter and, like Jessica, a good student. Both Andrea and Jessica were always smiling."

"They came from a good family with good values," Franklin said. "My dear friends, only the word of God, through our faith in the resurrection, can help us in this moment of pain."

Many of the attendees wore white ribbons during the service at the church where the sisters received their First Communion."