Kyle Clark (Fairport, N.Y.) -- Calling hours for four of the five Fairport graduates killed last week in a head-on crash were held inside the high school gym on Sunday.
Private calling hours for the fifth victim, Katie Shirley, were also held at a nearby funeral home Saturday and Sunday.
Inside Fairport High, thousands in the close-knit community came out to spend time with the families of Bailey Goodman, Hannah Congdon, Meredith McClure, and Sara Monnat.
After entering the gym, visitors could sign the books for each family. A video played in the front while people waited. The back of the gym was cordoned off and divided in four sections, each section devoted to one of the four girls.
A slide show played in the nearby auditorium for mourners to sit and reflect.
Many of those paying respect were wearing red, not traditionally a color for calling hours. But appropriate to remember the four Red Raider cheerleaders--reminding Fairport students of their common ties, common loss, and common pain.
Some mourners also wore orange, teal, and pink ribbons for the girls' favorite colors. Many of their friends clutched stuffed animals with wings.
Fairport Schools Superintendent Jon Hunter said, "They need to understand that people care. They need to understand that in this tragedy there are some special things that we can all grab onto and hold in our hearts."
Some of the first to come inside were firefighters and ambulance workers from East Bloomfield, who worked at the scene. Many of those waiting in line thanked them.
Then came the crush of family, friends, and some strangers, in a line snaking out of the gym and around the school.
"At this time the hurt is still so very deep, though we are trying to heal, because of that deep hurt, it is very somber and people recognize that these are young girls who made exceptional contributions, but contributions that ended way too short," Hunter said.
Funeral ArrangementsHannah Congdon – Funeral Mass at 9 a.m. Monday, July 2 at Church of the Assumption, 20 East Avenue, Fairport
Bailey Goodman -- Memorial Service at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 2 at Fairport United Methodist Church, 31 West Church Street, Fairport
Meredith McClure – Memorial Service at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3 at Browncroft Community Church, Penfield.
Sara Monnat – Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. Monday, July 2 at Church of the Assumption, Fairport
Katie Shirley – Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Monday, July 2 at St. John of Rochester, 8 Wickford Way, Fairport
