MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥 A high school band director who died when a bus crashed while carrying students from New York to a band camp in Pennsylvania last week was remembered Thursday as a dedicated teacher with a zest for life.
Gina Pellettiere, who led Farmingdale High School鈥檚 marching band for more than a decade, 鈥渨asn鈥檛 just a good teacher, she was a great teacher,鈥 Rita Padden, the school's former fine arts director, told mourners at Pellettiere's funeral in Massapequa Park on Long Island. 鈥淵ou hear from parents all the time: 鈥楳s. P was the reason my son loved trumpet or band.鈥欌
Pellettiere, 43, and retired teacher Beatrice Ferrari, 77, were killed on Sept. 21 when the charter bus they were riding in veered off a highway and crashed down an embankment on Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, northwest of New York City.
Dozens of students were injured in the crash; officials said four remained hospitalized as of late Wednesday.
The 春色直播 Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
that hundreds of students, parents, co-workers and community members attended Pellettiere's funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church.
Monsignor Jim Lisante said Pellettiere 鈥渨as here to leave the world better than she found it.鈥 Lisante asked, "Did Gina know she would live 43 years? Of course not, but she packed a lot into those years.鈥
Padden said Pellettiere 鈥渓ived life to the fullest.鈥
Pellettiere's survivors include her parents and the 2-year-old son she was raising as a single mother.
The funeral for Ferrari, a retired social studies teacher who was serving as a chaperone on the band trip, took place Wednesday in Farmingdale and
