SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kendra Nichole Czekaj, 12, was laid to rest Friday following a funeral service at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento.
The violent, sudden death of the girl Jan. 15 has left many in the community reeling. People of all ages attended the service, filling the chapel to say their last goodbyes.
Christina Penna, Kendra’s former cheer coach, took part in the memorial.
“It was a very beautiful service,” Penna said. “Everybody was there that loved her. It was a packed house. People were out the doors and there’s not one person in there that’s not... crying.”
Kendra was remembered for her big heart.
“I met her when I was having a tough time,” Penna remembered. “And she made me forget about it every day at practice. She was so smart. Every day I could find a new story. And if any of my girls were crying, she was the first one to go love on them.”
Penna broke into tears as she recalled memories of Kendra.
“I will deeply miss that little girl,” Penna said. “And if I could have helped her in any way, I would have. I would have taken her with me, but I can’t.”
Many people, like Austin Agnew, who said he was her boyfriend, and Nolen Gray, who said she was like a sister to him, shared fond memories of the kind of person she was.
“She loved dancing, singing,” Agnew said. “She loved making people feel good, make them happy.”
This was a common thing among attendees at the service. They described Kendra as a sassy girl full of love who had an extraordinary ability to make others happy.
“That was like my baby sister,” Gray said. “Every football game she would give me a hug before the game or before practice or after the game. She would always give me a kiss on my forehead and say ‘I love you brother. Be safe out there, and I’ll see you after the game.'”
Everyone expressed heartbreak over the life of Kendra, taken too early.
“It’s just terrible that she had to leave so soon,” said Agnew, his voice quivering. “She had so long…she had a great future in front of her. Everyone liked her. She was so caring.”
READ ALSO:
FOR NEWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DOWNLOAD THE ABC10 APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for ABC10's Daily Blend Newsletter
A judge denied Carewin "Glenn" Czekaj's request to attend his daughter's funeral, saying that she was the subject of felony sex abuse charges.