Community mourns death of 13-year-old victim

Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor
6 days ago
1 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

A "Hot Wheels" theme pickup was one of dozens of vehicles in a motorcade honoring the memory of Airen Andula that rolls down Pleasanton's Main Street on Tuesday, Dec. 30, following a service at Schneider's Funeral Home. Family members have said that Airen liked collecting Hot Wheels vehicles. (Billy Roudybush / Linn County Journal)

By Billy Roudybush

Journal contributor

As time for the funeral drew near on Tuesday, Dec. 30, the town of Pleasanton morphed from a deserted downtown to Main Street being packed with people parking along the side streets and behind Schneider’s Funeral Home. Parents, middle schoolers, high schoolers and school personnel came in support of Airen’s parents as they remembered Airen, the 13-year-old who tragically died at the Holiday Lakes development on Dec. 22.

Outside the funeral home, reporters from metro television stations interviewed people about the event and the effect of the tragedy. The majority of people remained after the funeral to celebrate with the memorial parade.

The motorcade began with the Pleasanton police, followed by race cars and sports cars and even semi-tractor-trailers as the community and people beyond the community showed their support for the family.