Farmingdale bus crash: Hundreds gather to honor beloved band director killed in accident

MASSAPEQUA PARK - It was standing-room-only at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park for the funeral of beloved band director Gina Pellettiere who was tragically killed last week, after the bus she was on veered off the road into a 50-foot ravine. 

The 43-year-old also known as Ms. P was said to be adored by her students and the community.

Applause erupted at times for the 43-year-old loving single mother by choice who leaves behind her 2-year-old son Joseph. 

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"I asked everyone there to remember and treasure the memories and one day when Joseph is perhaps a teenager they can tell him the way his mom touched their hearts and changed their lives because there was a lot of that," said Monsignor Jim Lisante with Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Pellettiere and 77-year-old retired social studies teacher Beatrice Ferrari were killed suddenly and tragically when the bus they were on overturned into a 50-foot ravine last week. 

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"She always saw more in everyone than we can see in ourselves," said former student Joseph Geraci.

There were 40 students and four adults on board the charter bus, when it veered off Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, around 45 miles northwest of New York City. 

The wake for Ferrari on Monday saw the funeral home filled to capacity with mourners.