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Stephen Lance Dennee / AP
Friends and family gather for the funeral service and burials of Angel Babcock, her parents and her siblings at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem, Ind., on Monday.
NBC News
Angel Babcock
SALEM, Ind -- The toddler found alive in a field but who later died of her tornado injuries was laid to rest along with her parents and siblings on Monday.
Angel Babcock, the 1-year-old who clung to life for two days, was buried with her parents, 2-year-old brother and 2-month-old sister during a private service in Salem, Ind.
The family had huddled in a neighbor's home but were sucked out by a tornado last Friday as it swept through New Pekin, Ind.
Angel's grandparents and doctors decided Sunday afternoon to remove her from life support after medical staff told them there was nothing more they could do.
"I had my arm around her when she took her last breath," grandmother Kathy Babcock told ABC News. "I sang to her 'Itsy-bitsy spider.'"
Stephen Lance Dennee / AP
Angel Babcock and her family were in the mobile home of neighbor Jim Miller in New Pekin, Ind. This scene on Monday shows the site where the home had stood.
When Angel arrived at Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky., on Friday night, she was opening her eyes — a hopeful sign, Chief Nursing Officer Cis Gruebbel said.
Things turned on Saturday, when the swelling in her brain didn't decrease. As the day went on, her eyes ceased to move and she continued to deteriorate. There was no sign of brain activity.
The man who sheltered Angel Babcock's family talks of the tragedy.
The family was buried in two caskets in the pauper section at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem, Police Maj. Scott Ratts said.
At least two banks set up funds to benefit the Babcock family, and Ratts said contributions have come in from all over the country.
"This family had been suffering with the bad economy, and now with the storms ... I mean, they have five burials in one day," Ratts said.
Pansy Branscum, who attended Monday's burial, said she was still stunned by the loss.
"It's a tragedy that we don't understand, but God does," she said as she and her husband, Milton, carried large arrangements of red-and-white carnations to the burial site.
Neighbor talks of twister that killed family
Snow, cold add to misery for tornado victims
The tornado that killed Angel and her family was among an estimated 30 packing winds of more than 110 mph that hit the Midwest and South on Friday, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.
Greg Carbin, warning coordination meteorologist at the center, said the assessment of the storms is still preliminary, and a series of weaker tornadoes that also struck could boost the total number of twisters to 60 or 70.
Carbin said the fact that the outbreak occurred as early in the year as it did was a "once in a decade-type event, maybe once or twice a decade."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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This is beyond heart breaking. What can anybody say or do except to try to comfort the living in every way possible and to keep the victims in our hearts forever.
It's a slow news days when the press go and interview family before they put to rest an intire family. Helping Americans with tragedies in America should be the priority and not deciding what terrorist group to bomb in Syria.
Obviously the family was ok with the interview. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened. Remember that news exposure is what this family needs right now what with their mounting expenses for burials, funerals, and other legal fees.
"It's a tragedy that we don't understand, but God does," she said as she and her husband, Milton, carried large arrangements of red-and-white carnations to the burial site.
Really?!? The press is interviewing the family while they go to the burial site. This is about as low as one can get. Let the family have their service and hopefully some closure and then talk to them.
horrible. and then you have @!$%#s like Pat Robertson saying that these people didn't pray enough to stop the tornadoes. my question is why didn't Robertson pray for them instead of condemning them. My God wouldn't punish a tiny child "for not praying enough". Robertson is dispicable - and if I ever saw him I'd be sure to say that to his face.
Is that old bastard *really* saying such horrible things? REALLY?? You know, there's a cold, hard slice of kharma waiting for him...
To the family, friends and community who are mourning this and so many other losses, right now, I wish all of you blessings, love and peace as you move towards healing and rebuilding. The nation cries with you, today. The lives of baby Angel and her loving family were cut far too short but wherever they are their souls are surely at peace, their arms wrapped around each other eternally.
This is heartbreaking... I hope this family RIP, such a horrible shame they lost their lives.
On another note I think the news people and reporters should have gave the family some time alone, not have the cameras out and standing on sidelines watching them bury their loved ones. The news is extremely nosey and doesn't ever seem to know when to back off. Let them grieve and deal with the situation, come back another day and talk to them.
And as far as someone saying they didn't Pray enough to stop these tornadoes is just ridiculous.... I am a very religious person but to say Praying over and over would have stopped it is just ridiculous. Life happens, Mother Nature happens. People always need someone to blame and to me thats VERY childish. Everyone has to die, how we go is not up to us, sadly some die horribly like this family and many others, some will die just getting out of bed. To blame anybody is childish and shows a lack of heart.
Again RIP To the family.
True....but the news coverage has brought in offers of help as well.
This is truly a heartbreaking situation. A very young couple and their three children gone in the blink of an eye. The only peace I can make of this is they are somewhere all together as a family, happy and whole.
Yes, they are happy now.
For whatever effect mere words and thoughts may have, we are so sorry for this tragedy, and hope those affected find some peace and solace somehow; we are stunned and humbled with you. As for the self-appointed "man of God", mock the dead? blame the victims? PHARISEE.
Heartbreaking.
Very sad. To here about a little baby that survived the worst of it and then hearing that she didnt make it. The little children really saddens me. There are more tragedies to hit this area. In the form of charities popping up asking for money to help in this time of need. unfortunately there will be the people that feel they are entitled to paid big bucks to facilitate and run the charities. Now, i dont mind if someone puts there whole life into the charities that they run but most are completely out of line, and they prey on peoples compassion. The one charity that ive researched that does alot of good without wasting money on advetising and other waste of peoples compassion is the red cross, however other reputable places to give are the local churches in the area, you can be sure that the individuals that are most injured and most at need will get what they need. Truly a heartbreaking situation and i will definately research the local small churches and township offices to find out how to help these folks the most. 20 bucks donated to a church or other local(in town) service is probably equivalent to giving a bank run charity 100 bucks. that will probably take weeks to finally find its way after being split up among the bull@!$%# expenses and advertising and entitled executives that see human suffering as thier big payday. im sorry to be thinking this way folks but im also realistic and want to truly help these folks. calling a local church or other small twnship office or help center and you will also be sure your talking to someone that you can give some blessings and condolences directly to someone that has been effected by this tragedy, good day folks and find out the best way to help. oh, one more thing, no texting 30043 to some wacky help line.or whatever these places that want you to text a monetary amount to. They are the biggest scavengers of compassion that there is.
My heart and prayers go out to the dead and survivors of this horrible tragedy.
Survivors, you are here for a reason, embrace your second chance and use it wisely.
Families of the deceased; they were taken back to the source for a reason. all is not lost as their spirits live on.
Peace be with you all and all will be understood in time.
Nothing much to say. God rest their souls.
Blessings and condolences to their families....
Everyone says God bless them, I agree. Makes me wonder about God, Christian or otherwise.
Perhaps their is no God, then what?
Whether there is a god or not there is us. Humanity. We are here and we can help each other, now. Whether it's to open your wallet and give resources or to open your heart and give support and love there is always something we can do. It doesn't matter how we got where we are, only how we handle where we are going. I wish blessings on them and on everyone whether it comes from a god or from our own two hands. We owe each other love, peace and healing - the greatest blessings anyone can bestow.
There is a God, and since he is all-knowing and we are not, we don't always understand.
@HShaver
Yeah...sounds logical...
Lord, we do not understand this, but please help our broken hearts, and give us the strength to go on. Amen
Such a terrible, terrible tragedy. Our hearts go out to this family, many of their relatives known to the surrounding communities. We live in the next town over and it sends chills down your spine to think of how close this came to destroying more lives. We continue to keep this family in our thoughts.
By and By, I don't think it's necessary to say they were buried in the paupers section of the cemetery. That is gratuitous information that is also insensitive to mention.
I agree. To say that is an offhandish way of speaking ill of, if not the dead, then at least the dead's financial finesse.
The family was buried in two caskets in the pauper section at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem, Police Maj. Scott Ratts said. Was it really necessary to mentioned that they buried in the "pauper" section?
I think it was. Everyone needs to know just how destitute this poor family and all of their relations are and just how much more they are suffering because of it. Not bad enough that they had to bury an entire branch of their family but that they can't afford to do it speaks volumes.
To bury five people all at once usually costs 25,000.00 to 30,000.00 all at once for proper burial. Now who has that on hand all at once? Not your average American. Sometimes people just don't have enough money to bury their family and friends as they would like and it's nobody's fault and not many can do a thing about it. And no, people do not have to know if someone was buried in a pauper's grave. I don't think you, AngieS, would appreciate it if you had to bury a famiy member in a pauper's grave for lack of money and people told the media this.
Stacey and Jane: Whats the matter? being shown the face of poverty a little too unsettling for your middle-class existence?
This is southern Indiana. they have poverty there. Welcome to the Real World.
There is no shame in poverty, only in turning a blind eye to it. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Show each other kindness and respect no matter what our trials in life may be, for we all have them. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." One need not be a Christian to know in their heart that such sentiments should hold true for *all* of humanity.
Dear John,
I'm a truck drivers daughter who grew up eating government cheese, living in the projects and knowing the difference between real milk and the powdered stuff. I live in Southern Indiana thankyouverymuch and still live paycheck to paycheck, just like millions of others. I think it's unecessary to mention to the world where in a cemetary someone is buried based on the ability to pay. It's no one's business and in no way contributed to the story. That is all.
Wow, did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, or every morning? You must be one of the "Christians". The type to shame, blame, and assume. The type to cast the first stone. You have no idea how people live, so maybe you should just keep your thoughts to yourself.
The family lived in a trailer park. Obviously rich people don't live in trailer parks. Most people with an average IQ would have made the connection. The "pauper" added nothing to the story.
If they had money coming in from all over then why were they burried in the pauper section? Why was it necessary to tell people they had financial problems or what section they were burried in? They deserved better after all they suffered.
Because even with donations the preparation and burial of 5 bodies can be an exorbitantly expensive undertaking. When my grandmother passed over 15 years ago the cost of her funeral - not quite the least expensive available but by no means a lavish affair - ran to thousands of dollars and she had already bought and paid for her plot. These are people who, I suspect, are very poor and probably have to rebuild their own homes and lives on top of this tragedy. I think the author's intent was to remind us that not only are these terrible things happening to ordinary American families but that they are happening to some of the neediest among us making it just that much worse.
They are by no means the neediest among us. I have seen starving children through foster care and the officials watching over them that could care less.
this is such a heartbreaking story to hear..that the whole family didn't survive..the little baby was trying to make it, but she succumbed to her injuries..tragic..RIP
This family has made my heart hurt. MANY Condolences and thoughts headed out to the many victims. Prayers for quick healing, and comfort from the pain.