Hundreds of people, including family, friends and parishioners, gathered Wednesday morning for an emotional funeral service for a Leyden High School student who collapsed during a choir event Friday and later died.
The DuPage County coroner’s office identified the student as Daniel Moshi, 17, of Franklin Park. An autopsy was performed Saturday, but a cause of death had not been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
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A group of students had come together for the Illinois American Choral Directors Association’s All State Honor Show Choir at Naperville North High School Friday when Moshi collapsed while singing.
At the funeral, many wore blue — the favorite color of the choir alto lead singer at St. Andrew’s Assyrian Church in Glenview — and crumpled tissues in their hands. The service was carried out mostly in Assyrian.
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“He used every minute of his precious life,” Chorbishop George Toma said in English, urging mourners to follow Moshi’s example and live fully. “By the grace of God, we will see him again.”
Toma said Moshi’s voice would not be silent in heaven, but that rather, he would continue singing as beautifully as he did in his lifetime.
A smiling picture of Moshi welcomed mourners into the church, which was standing room only. At the front, numerous flower wreaths and crosses flanked a blue casket.
When the service was over Wednesday, a procession led by a group of teens holding roses and blue balloons brought the casket out. A friend of Moshi’s walked around outside the church with a basket labeled “Letters for Daniel.”
“We all want to write letters,” a mourner told her.
Classmate Liana Guerrero said she met Moshi in sixth grade, in the first day of choir. She talked about his memorable laugh and outgoing personality.
Moshi, she said, was “talented, for sure. Compassionate. And he has a very go-getter attitude.”
Next to her, Nissi Rios chimed in. She remembered first seeing Moshi perform in middle school musicals. “I was surprised by his talent, and I was like, ‘Oh, wow, I want to be just like that,’” Rios said.
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Julian Munoz met Moshi last year. He also remembers him for his talent and contagious laugh.
“His voice was just so beautiful. It was amazing. Something beyond this world,” Munoz said.
Munoz and Moshi were getting along pretty well in choir, he added. “I remember sitting next to him. Singing with him is just something that I’ll miss forever,” he said.
Moshi’s family told media outlets that he had plans to attend college and dreamed of performing on Broadway.
Leyden High School District 212 released a statement about Moshi’s death Monday.
“This loss impacts our entire Leyden community,” the statement read. “Our students and staff are grieving and our focus is on their well being. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
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