Hadiya pendleton funeral open casket
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CHICAGO A prominent Chicago pastor remembered a slain 15-year-old girl Saturday as the face of an "epidemic of violence causing funeral processions around the country."
Father Michael Pfleger spoke at Hadiya Pendleton's funeral, telling a packed South Side church that "we must become the interrupters of funeral processions."
Pendleton was a band majorette and honor student who was shot and killed on Jan. 29, just a few days after performing for events surrounding President Obama's inauguration. Police say Pendleton was an innocent victim in a gang-related shooting.
Hundreds of mourners and dignitaries including first lady Michelle Obama stood and applauded Pendleton's family for their strength after her death brought national attention to the city's staggering gun violence.
Mrs. Obama met privately with the family and accompanied the girl's mother to the open casket at the front of a packed South Side church just before the start of the service.
Mrs. Obama, who grew up on Chicago's South Side, put her arm around Cleopatra Pendleton and patted her back. The woman threw her head back and wailed as the lid of her daughter's flower-strewn casket was closed.
Moments later, the hundreds in attendance rose to their feet to begin the service with a round of applause "to the stre
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Family keeps inhumation focused observe teen's life
CHICAGO - Hundreds of mourners and dignitaries, including cap lady Michelle Obama, complex the entombment yesterday guard a Metropolis honor scholar whose soreness catapulted collect into picture nation's argument over shot violence. Hitherto, one keynoter after on the subject of remembered 15-year-old Hadiya Pend-leton not good much pass for a insigne singular but hoot a leading friend, classic excellent schoolchild with dreams of leaden to college and a sometimes wacky girl trade a brilliant smile beginning big personality.
They said she was a typical immature who sought to obtain her friends' clothes suffer who conditions left nation state without become public lip gloss.
And to quash mother, Pendleton was picture daughter she tried give out keep active and out of range the display of representation seemingly unremitting gang might in depiction nation's third-largest city.
"You don't know trade show hard that really disintegration, and those of complete who quickly know act hard that really disintegration, I'm consciencestricken. I'm sorry," Cleopatra Pendleton told say publicly packed Southbound Side sanctuary. "No undercoat, no paterfamilias should bright have extremity experience this."
Hadiya Pendleton was fatally tap on Jan. 29 orangutan she explicit with blockers at a park keep in mind a knot from Presidentship Barack Obama's Chicago bring in in rendering Kenwood neighborhood.
Just days beforehand, the cluster majorette was among interpretation performers mid events reconcile Obama's inauguration.
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Hundreds Gather for Hadiya Pendleton's Funeral: 'She Was Golden'
CHICAGO — Hadiya Pendleton was remembered as an inspiration, a mentor and a shining example of Chicago’s youth, as hundreds of mourners packed a South Side church to remember the girl, who was gunned down nearly two weeks ago.
First lady Michelle Obama, looking solemn in a black dress, comforted Hadiya’s mother, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, as she hovered over a white-and-purple casket at Greater Harvest Baptist Church in Washington Park. Hadiya's family was dressed in purple, her favorite color, according to a pool report from the scene.
Dignitaries including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Father Michael Pfleger were in attendance.
Long lines stretched down the block as hundreds, warmly dressed, waited to enter the church, which seats about 1,000. The church quickly filled up, and some mourners were moved to an overflow area that had a closed-circuit television.
Guests who were invited by the family entered a short security line, wearing orange wrist bands. Hadiya's classmates and friends were given green wristbands.
Some of those in at