On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered at in Covina for a funeral service for Yvette Velasco, one of 14 victims who were killed in the San Bernardino mass shooting.
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Velasco, who was 27 years old, was an environmental health inspector who was due to receive a gold badge officially recognizing her as a San Bernardino County health inspector, according to ABC 7. She had just passed an exam to become a state-registered inspector.
A beautiful portrait of Yvette Velasco is placed at the front of her funeral service in Covina. #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/qfpH4lpsRo— Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) December 10, 2015
San Bernardino's Trail of Tears: Casket of 27 y/o Yvette Velasco arrives for burial. Many more ceremonies to come. pic.twitter.com/jBK198w2MM— Conan Nolan (@conanNBCLA) December 10, 2015
In attendance at Forest Lawn Memorial Park were Velasco's friends, family, and co-workers, as well as California Highway Patrol officers who came in support of Velasco's father, who is a retired CHP lieutenant.
"She was more than our sister," Velasco's sister Erica Porteous told the Associated Press. "She was our soul mate."
Velasco was the youngest sibling amongst her three older sisters. Her family told AP that they had no knowledge that she was to receive a badge at the holiday party at the Inland Regional Center that morning -- her sisters said she did not like to draw attention to herself, and had only casually mentioned a badge ceremony to their mother.
The only hint they had was the Snaochat message she had sent to her sister Adriana Velasco with a photo of a Starbucks cup with a few words mentioning a holiday party.
"She always strived to do better and make her parents proud." #YvetteVelasco— Stephanie K. Baer (@skbaer) December 10, 2015
Coworkers remember Yvette for her generosity, determination and enthusiasm for her job, says a #SBHealth supervisor. #YvetteVelasco— Stephanie K. Baer (@skbaer) December 10, 2015
Hundreds of friends and family here for Yvette Velasco's funeral, lots of CHP officers in attendance, as her father is a retired lt.— Stephanie K. Baer (@skbaer) December 10, 2015
Her sisters and parents told ABC 7 that they chose the park for her service and burial because of how much she loved nature.
One of her sisters, Genevieve Tovar, told AP that she was certain of what her sister would have wanted in the aftermath of the attack: "She would want to promote peace."
Her parents and sisters released white doves in her honor during the service.
#SanBernardinoShooting victim, Yvette Velasco, was buried Dec. 10, 2015 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. #SBStrong pic.twitter.com/iC6SgEgkfO— barbara davidson (@photospice) December 10, 2015
#YvetteVelasco's dad: "Rest in peace, my beautiful angel." @KNX1070 #SBshooting pic.twitter.com/lKGX8HyVLA— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) December 10, 2015
Velasco's funeral is the first of many that will be held for those killed on Dec. 2 when two armed assailants opened fire on a holiday party last week in San Bernardino.
She was amongst one of the youngest who died in the attack.