Feb 25, 2008 6:53 pm US/Central
Funeral For Brothers Killed In School Bus Crash
COTTONWOOD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The funeral for Hunter Javens, 9, and Jesse Javens, 13, was held at Lakeview School in Cottonwood, where classes had been canceled.
CBS
On Monday, the two brothers killed in a school bus crash were remembered at their joint funeral service. The funeral for Jesse Javens, 13, and Hunter Javens, 9, was held at Lakeview School in Cottonwood, where classes had been canceled.
Jesse's casket was lead into the school's gymnasium first, followed by younger brother Hunter. Pallbearers wore professional wrestling shirts to honor a pastime the brothers loved.
"Jesse loved sports and participated in baseball, football and basketball throughout the school," said Rev. Gloria Anderson at the service. "He also enjoyed hunting, riding dirt bikes and 4-wheelers, playing video games and drawing."
During the service Anderson said both boys will be remembered for their smiles and their passions.
"Hunter was an animal lover. He enjoyed his horse Toby, Zeus and reading about animals," she said.
Hunter would have celebrated his 10th birthday on Monday, and the roughly 1,400 mourners at the funeral sang the Happy Birthday song to his twin sister Sasha. She also accepted a birthday gift on his behalf.
"That the boys wanted us to remember them with a smile. They wanted us to remember all the happy memories," said Anderson.
Teachers and classmates shed tears for Jesse and Hunter, and after the funeral friends talked about how the family is coping.
"It was very difficult for the family but they're very strong," said Janet Pierce, who works with Hunter and Jesse's mother Rita Javens. Pierce said Rita loved talking about her sons and all their activities.
"They were involved in a lot of sports and they were keeping her real busy and she just loved it, she loved going to their games," said Pierce.
The Javens family has been through a lot lately. Years ago they had another child die from a medical condition. One of Jesse and Hunter's older brothers just got married. He and his wife cut their honeymoon short to come back and be with the family.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 people attended the funeral for Emilee Olson, 9. The funeral for Reed Stevens, 12, of Marshall, has been scheduled for Thursday at the school.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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