One week to the day after a McKean County car crash left six dead, four of the victims — members of the same St. Marys family — were laid to rest in funeral services held there on Saturday and attended by hundreds.
Mourners lined up outside the Elk County Catholic High School for collective funerals held over the weekend for Elaine Beimel, 55, of 146 Terrace Road, St. Marys; her husband Gary Beimel, 62, of 146 Terrace Road, St. Marys; her aunt, Florence Donachy, 82, of 217 Martin Road, St. Marys; and brother, Dave Cuneo, 54, of 131 Grandview Road, St. Marys.
It was just after 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 when their vehicle — traveling north on U.S. Route 219 through the Allegheny National Forest in McKean County — collided head-on with a Jeep Liberty that had drifted into oncoming traffic.
All four were killed on impact. Two children, passengers in the Jeep Liberty driven by 36-year-old Kathy Douglas of Kane were also killed.
Douglas and her 10-year-old son survived. Both remain hospitalized.
Soon after, Michelle Muccio, funeral director with the Lynch Green Funeral Home in St. Marys began organizing ceremonies for the St. Marys victims.
With large turnouts of mourners expected, a first of its kind decision was made to hold services at the high school.
Between 1,500 and 1,800 attended visitation held inside the school’s gymnasium Friday evening.
On Saturday, a shared Mass of Christian Burial was held inside the school’s auditorium with an estimated 800 on hand.
The service celebrated by local Catholic priests also included a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” performed by the Elk County Catholic High School Marching Band.
No eulogies were given.
The Rev. Richard Allen of Queen of the World Parish in St. Marys, a concelebrant in the weekend’s services, said the atmosphere inside was one of “unbridled grief.”
Muccio said the funerals and outpouring of public sentiment were fitting tributes to the four locals who were by all accounts beloved by the co-workers, neighbors, friends and family who came to pay their respects.
“These families were very well liked,” Muccio said. “It was a remarkable turnout and show of support from the community for this family.”
On Thursday morning, funeral services for the child victims, 12-year-old Olivia Douglas, of Eldred, and 6-year-old Jarrett Costanzo, of Kane, similarly drew massive crowds to St. Callistus Roman Catholic Church in Kane.
Following Saturday’s service in St. Marys, family members gathered privately inside St. Marys Catholic Cemetery as the Beimels, Donachy and Cuneo were laid to rest.
The last week has seen tributes and vigils staged across the area in honor of the six lost.
