Beekman Avenue in Sleepy Hollow was eerily quiet as a funeral for Andrea Rebello was underway inside a packed St. Teresa of Avila church.
The media presence in the villages in the aftermath of Rebello's death has been growing daily much to the dismay of many residents. Today it reached new density in a bank of heavy camera equipment positioned across from the church on Beekman.
Sleepy Hollow police manned both ends of the roadway controlling traffic. For the most part, the media was respectful, said Village Administrator Anthony Giaccio, who said that Police Lieutenant Anthony Bueti had asked reporters to not approach mourners and stay within a certain area.
Most of the crews representing every television station from Long Island to our region were abiding this, though some had settled on private property and there were a few interviews going on further away from the church.
Inside, the Journal News reported that the service was full of tears and white ribbons as sorority sisters got up to speak of their "angel" and twin sister Jessica lit a red candle.
"During this tragedy a question comes to mind, why? Why?," Rev. Osvaldo Franklin said, according to the Journal News report. "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."
A long procession of many cars following the hearse made their way up Beekman after the lengthy service to go to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Rebello would be interred.
For video from before and after the service click here.
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