Loss of Girl, 11, Mourned

SAN FERNANDO —  Los Angeles Fire Chief William Bamattre, addressing some 400 mourners Tuesday at the funeral of 11-year-old Norma Vides, offered her family the comfort he said rescuers had been unable to give the Sun Valley girl when their helicopter fell from the sky.

“A week ago on Monday Norma needed our help,” Bamattre told the crowd packing Santa Rosa Catholic Church in San Fernando. “We responded to give her help and comfort--a help and comfort that we could not provide for reasons beyond our control.”

Bamattre also promised that the girl would be honored each year when the department pays tribute to the three firefighters who died trying to save her on the way to Childrens Hospital after she was critically injured in an early morning car crash.

“Each year from this day forward,” he said, “we will also honor and speak of Norma.”

He was joined by dozens of other firefighters, all in their formal black uniforms--including a battalion chief who said they regarded the ill-fated flight a mission unaccomplished.

“We had an incomplete mission,” said Battalion Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, whose crews responded to the car crash that set in motion the tragic chain of events. “It was devastating to us all.”

Norma was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery on a rainy day, as her mother, Genoveva Anaya, and father, Alfredo Vides--who obtained a special visa to travel from El Salvador for the funeral--fought back tears and fought off the cold.

“It’s still very hard,” said Alfredo Vides, 48, who has been in El Salvador for a year to obtain proper immigration papers.

The car accident occurred early March 23, as Genoveva Anaya, 44--a Salvadoran immigrant who worked at two convalescent hospitals to raise five children alone--and her family began their daily routine.

The family car--packed with the children ranging in ages from 5 to 17--left their apartment on Sunland Park Drive heading to Mt. Gleason Middle School, where Norma was a seventh-grader. The car was being driven by Genoveva’s nephew Pedro, 17, who was living with her temporarily.

According to authorities, a city truck picking up recyclables was rear-ended by a white Chevy Blazer. A second city trash truck that had stopped to offer assistance was then hit by Genoveva’s Toyota.

Norma, who was not wearing a seat belt, was badly hurt. A Fire Department helicopter crew arrived to take her to Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles.

The helicopter developed mechanical problems and crashed in Griffith Park about 7:40 a.m. Also killed were Paramedics Michael A. Butler, 33; Eric F. Reiner, 33, and “helitac” flight crew member Michael McComb, 48.

Pilot Steven L. Robinson and crew member Dennis Silgen, who survived the helicopter crash, have improved to guarded but stable condition at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, said Capt. Steve Ruda, a spokesman for the Fire Department.

Tuesday’s funeral began when mourners, covering themselves against the rain and wind, began trickling into the church for the 9 a.m. Mass.

Norma’s family followed the white casket as it was brought into the church. Genoveva, her head and face covered with a black and white scarf, sat, comforted by Alfredo. Two dozen other family members and friends occupied the first three pews.

“We come to God with questions,” said Father Paul Wilhelm, pastor of Santa Rosa Church, speaking directly to the family in Spanish. “Why weren’t you there last week protecting our sister, our daughter, our brothers?”

Wilhelm’s short sermon focused on the Biblical story of Martha and Mary, whose brother Lazarus died and was raised from the dead by Jesus after being called upon by Lazarus’ sisters.

“Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died,” Martha tells Jesus four days after Lazarus’ death.

“Thy brother shall rise again,” Jesus responded.

Relating the story to Norma’s family, Wilhelm told them: “That’s what [God] tells us today--that our sister will live again.”

Outside, as people started to gather for the procession to the cemetery, firefighters reflected on the tragedy.

Even as the helicopter was going down, Arbuthnott said, the paramedics tried to protect Norma.

“They all laid on top of her to cover her up,” he said. “They tried all the way to the end.”

Recounting crew member Silgen’s recollection of the crash, Ruda said, “When they knew they were going to crash, they tightened [their hold on] the little girl.”

Norma’s family gathered under a cemetery awning--the coffin, with flowers around it, in front of them.

Ruda said Silgen sent a message to Norma’s family: “Don’t lose hope.”

Many children from Norma’s school and apartment complex attended the funeral Mass and burial.

“It’s boring without her,” said a somber Claudia Fabian, 12.

After the casket was lowered, Alfredo approached. He poured the first shovelful of dirt on the coffin and slowly walked back to the crowd.

As cemetery workers filled the grave, with the wind blowing through the rain, Alfredo shivered and Genoveva wept.