Family, friends say goodbye to Rochester teen

Family and friends of a Rochester teen pay their respects at her memorial service Friday. 17-year-old Le Ngo died after being caught in the middle of a 36-car pile up on I-390 near the airport last Sunday.

A School of the Art student sang, Whitney Houston’s “Hero” at the Life Celebration for her fellow classmate.  That hero was 17-year-old Le Ngo. She may not have leaped tall buildings in a single bound or ran faster than a speeding bullet, but Ngo was a hero nonetheless to her family and friends.

"She go to school, she work hard, she love to study. Her family earn minimum income. She work part-time to get some extra income to provide for her little brother, sister," said Bill Luan Nguyen, her uncle.

In case you doubted the love her fellow classmates had for her at The School of the Arts, take a look at the message board filled with respect and admiration for a girl they described as kind-hearted. While friends and family were in one room saying goodbye to Ngo in an open casket, another room was designed as a tribute to her life.

"Every time I spoke to Le, she spoke of the future and what she wanted to do. She was very smart, very, very smart," said Jacinda Ortiz, a teammate.

Smart and athletic, Ngo was a talented softball player on the Junior Varsity team.

"She was always in it for fun. She never cared if we lost or if it was bad. It was all about fun for her,” said Brittany Clugstone, a teammate.

Pictures of Ngo filled the Falvo Funeral Home, included were the last pictures Ngo took before she died.

"We're going to keep her memory going, instill the love of literacy, she loved books, she loved books and she got to the last book, I can't remember the name of the book, but she had two chapters left in the book," said Rita Gaither, a family friend.

Ngo not only loved to read, she loved music and math. She planned to pursue a career in engineering. Ngo was also a terrific cook and bowler. She also volunteered her time at Highland Hospital. And like many heroes out there...

"She had a head full of dreams," said Clugstone.

Ngo's fellow softball players are setting up a $250 scholarship in her name in the coming months. And for those who couldn't make it to Friday's service, on Sunday there will be a traditional Vietnamese ceremony from 1-9 p.m. at the Falvo Funeral home.