Young Victim of Hit-and-Run Is Eulogized

Marcos Chico’s death on a Santa Ana street was mourned Wednesday in the same Roman Catholic church where he was baptized as a newborn only eight years earlier.

Two lush Christmas trees and a nativity scene framed his casket during the somber funeral where scriptural readings on the wonders of children were interspersed with hymns about heaven.

A hit-and-run driver killed the Santa Ana second-grader Dec. 20 as his family walked home from a Christmas toy shopping excursion, according to police.

Nearly 300 people, including dozens of Marcos’ playmates, attended the funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana.

The 15 pallbearers and many family members nearly obscured the small, white casket as it was pushed to the altar. Marcos’ mother, Sara Jimenez, in a front pew, stared at the coffin in silent agony, clutching the walker she has used since being injured in the crash. Marcos’ 11-year-old sister, Abigail, remains in an induced coma with a severe head injury. His 6-year-old brother, Alexis, suffered minor injuries.

To symbolize Marcos’ journey from birth to death, Father Christopher Smith sprinkled holy water over the baptismal font, then on the casket, covered by a shroud and a small metal crucifix.

That the boy died at Christmastime adds another layer of grief to a senseless tragedy, Smith said.

“Christmas is normally a time of joy and hope and of life,” he said. “But this year we are suffering the death of Marcos: a small child, a child of God.”

Smith said that when he visited Marcos’ parents at the hospital, the boy’s father, Jose Chico, had inspiring words.

“In the midst of his terrible suffering,” Smith said, “Jose told me, ‘May we not let our tears extinguish the candles that light our way to heaven.’ ”

Marcos’ life, his generosity, kindness and love for his family should be a candle that inspires others, Smith said.

“In his brief life, this little boy showed so much compassion and devotion to his family,” the priest said. “Truly, Marcos is a candle in our lives.”

The boy’s parents were barely able to speak after the hourlong service.

“It is a very hard time,” Chico said. “To see all these people here for my son.... I don’t have words to describe the feeling.”

Among those attending was the sixth-grade teacher of Marcos’ sister, his body shaking with sobs as the casket was carried into the church. A contingent of employees from the Courtyard by Marriott in Irvine, where Jose Chico cleans rooms, gave the family a large gift bag stuffed with donated checks from hotel workers.

And several janitors from Chapman University in Orange, where Jimenez works, came to show their support. Reina Schmitz said she had seen Jimenez and her children the day before Marcos died, when they came to a toy giveaway for janitors’ children.

“This was such a tragic way for him to die,” Schmitz said after the service. “When a crisis like this happens, we want to come together like a family to help the grieving.”

Marcos’ parents moved from Mexico to Santa Ana 14 years ago and live in a three-bedroom apartment less than a mile from the accident scene.

Marisela Garcia Cesena, 25, was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail on suspicion of felony hit and run in the accident on Grand Avenue near 14th Street.

Authorities said Cesena and two passengers fled after the SUV she was driving struck the family, then crashed into a concrete wall, though Cesena later returned and was treated for a broken arm.

Marcos was buried at Santa Ana Cemetery. To cover the family’s funeral expenses and mounting medical bills, donations are being accepted by several organizations, including the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, also at St. Joseph Church, where Marcos received the gift card he used to buy a toy before the accident.

Donations may be made by check to: Sara Jimenez, c/o St. Joseph Church, 727 Minter St., Santa Ana, CA 92701-4132.