In Memory of Olivia Teixeira (Updated)

Tia Rosalina, Uncle Pio & Olivia (Taken at our wedding about a year ago).

I have never, ever, wanted to write one of these, especially about someone so young, but for Olivia I will.

Friday night my family was rocked with news of a car accident that involved my god-father, my aunt, and their daughter. The three were headed down to Rhode Island, as they do almost every weekend to visit my aunts family, when they got a in an accident on Rt. 95S in Attelboro, MA and their SUV rolled over. Uncle Pio was driving, Tia Rosalina was the front passenger, and Olivia was sitting in the back. Apparently, Tia Rosalina and Olivia were not wearing thier seatbelts. I believe Tia Rosalina was saved by the airbag. However, Olivia was not so fortunate, she was thrown through the windshield and later died at Rhode Island Hospital. Olivia would have been 21 on May 10th. She leaves behind two younger brothers E.J. (18) and Joshua (16). Uncle Pio and Tia Rosalina are recovering at Rhode Island Hospital (Uncle Pio has pain in his upper back and feet; Tia Rosalina had surgery to insert a plate in her wrist and she is also in total body pain).

As many of you know I have a very large famiy. We all conviened (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) until 6AM on Friday night, waiting for word from Rhode Island. Many people drove down to Rhode Island to confirm it themselves. About 50 people came to my grandmothers house that night, located about 15o feet from where Olivia grew up. We cried, we prayed, and just sat silent as the news sank in. Over the weekend, well over 100 people came through that house to pay their respects to the family. It has been a sad few days.

We will all miss Olivia as she was a fun girl to be around who had a beautiful smile. She was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I can still recall her and my sister Stefanie hanging around, like twins, whenever they/we visited. She was shy and polite, until she got around the family, then she became one of the loud ones like the rest of us.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words these past few days. We really appreciate it. Please read the article below for more information and to see how great of a family they are.

Thank you.

UPDATE: Tia Rosalina is recovering from surgery that placed a plate in her wrist and Uncle Pio is out of the hospital. Funeral services are to be held on Saturday, with the wake preceding on Friday. Check out my cousin Tony Rosa's site for a lovely tribute and more information on the services.