As the sun began to set Sunday night, Stephanie Cordoba's family and friends stood silently holding candles in front of her West Central Fresno home. Later, they shared stories. A few even smiled as they reminisced about the bubbly 20-year-old.
"She was a beautiful person inside and out and you know had a smile that could light up a room. Everybody loved her," said Stephanie's friend Samantha Valdez.
The intimate vigil followed a day of mourning for Cordoba. Earlier, hundreds of people filed into the chapel of the light church in West Central Fresno for a memorial service. It was the first of many services that will be held in the coming days following Thursday morning's bus crash.
Cordoba was one of three young women who died when their suv overturned and was hit by the Greyhound bus on Highway 99. Three people on the bus were also killed.
Cordoba's younger sister says she regrets not saying her last good bye. "The night she went out, I was like, oh I'm going to see her tomorrow. It's no big deal. And so I didn't say good bye cause I was so tired, I wanted to get to bed it was like I'm going to see her tomorrow. It's no big deal."
Those who knew Cordoba best say although they're devastated by the loss, they're trying to stay strong for her 3-month-old daughter, Sienna. They already see Cordoba in her daughter's eyes and say, she will grow up doing the same.
"Sienna will know her mom. Sienna will keep her memory alive. We'll show Sienna pictures, we'll show sienna some videos we did growing up with Stephanie."
Funeral arrangements for the other victims are still pending.
Stephanie Cordoba Donations:
Bank of America
Account Number: 1197469250
