Guerrero died shielding her 15-year-old daughter during the tornado that demolished their home as it raged through the Merrick section of West Springfield.
Mourners gather at the entrance of the Toomey-O'Brien Funeral Home in West Springfield for the funeral of tornado victim Angelica Guerrero.WEST SPRINGFIELD – Friends and relatives turned out Thursday to mourn the passing of Angelica Figueroa Guerrero, the mother who died protecting her 15-year-old daughter from the recent tornado.
The 39-year-old Guerrero perished because she shielded her daughter Ibone in a bathtub in their 667 Union St. apartment during the June 1 tornado that swept the area. A calling hour was held at 5 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. funeral at Toomey-O’Brien Funeral Home as torrential rains poured down outside.
People who knew Guerrero have described the Mexican immigrant as a saintly person completely devoted to her family. Victor Richey, who rented the third-floor unit in the apartment house where Guerrero lived, has said she was a very quiet, hard-working mother.
He recalled her as a beautiful woman who dressed well, wore her hair up and kept a very clean apartment. Richey described the Guerreros as “a very, very tight” and nice family whose members kept to themselves.
Guerrero worked at the Wendy’s outlet in the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside. Her husband, Juan, stayed at home to care for the foster children the family took in. Juan tried to dig his wife out of the rubble of their home, which collapsed after the tornado hit, according to an eyewitness to the tragedy. Neighbors also tried to free her using a chain saw, but she was not removed until later by firefighters.
In addition to her husband and daughter Ibone, Guerrero leaves a second daughter, Fabiola.