Family Focuses On Teen Orphaned By Fire
posted 10:34 pm Wed December 12, 2007 - Derwood, Md.
"He can keep his composure but he does cry especially when he sees a picture." Thirteen-year-old Oscar Sanchez lost his five-year-old brother, Adam, his 42-year-old mother, Guillermina Curiel Garcia, and his 75-year-old grandmother, Paula Curiel.
Sanchez was awakened by a smoke alarm about 4 a.m. rushed upstairs to help his family, but the smoke and heat was too much. He ran to a neighbor's house for help. Guillermina, also known as Gail to many, was the owner of the Costa Alegre Restaurant on Greenbelt Road in Berwyn Heights.
Garcia's niece, Vanessa Cortez, along with Garcia's best friend Gail Toomey, spent the day salvaging photos from the house that's now a burned out shell.
"We wanted to salvage what we could for Oscar for later."
Wednesday would have been Adam's 6th birthday. "I think Adam is at peace with his mommy. I think they had has birthday party Wednesday and I think he needed his mommy and his mommy needed him."
With a mother, grandmother, and brother gone, the family says they must find peace for Oscar.
"He has us. We don't replace them by any means, but we will work our hardest to make sure we can help him through this time."
The viewing services will be held Thursda, December 13th from 2-4 p.m. at the De Col Funeral Home in Gaithersburg. The funeral will be held Friday at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church at 115 South Frederick Avenue.
A number of funds have been set up to help Oscar and his family.
The Redland and Sequoyah PTAs created a fund at Sun Trust Bank for Oscar.
Donations for Oscar can be dropped off at any Sun Trust Bank bank branch. Just tell them you want to contribute to the Sanchez Angel Fund. Checks must have "RMS PTA for Sanchez Angel Fund" in the "Pay to:" section.
You may send a check to either Redland Middle School or Sequoyah Elementary School, which his younger brother attended.
The schools are also accepting gift cards from any local stores such as clothing stores, sport stores, or department stores. These may be sent to either school.
Addresses:
-Redland Middle School 6505 Muncaster Mill Road Rockville, Maryland 20855
-Sequoyah Elementary School 17301 Bowie Mill Road Rockville, MD 20855
All donations are appreciated.
Also, you can donate money to any Bank of America location under the Garcia burial fund.
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