Community Corner
Friends of Dixon Teens Killed Saturday to Host Fundraisers Today, Tomorrow for Funeral Expenses
The friends of Delfino Gaona and Alex Silva are holding fundraisers today and tomorrow to help the teens' families with funeral expenses
Dixon is rallying around the families of two young men who were Saturday in a Sutter County vehicle accident.
Friends of Delfino Gaona, 19, and Alex Silva, 17, both of Dixon, who were killed when the car they were riding in crashed along Highway 99, have been holding fundraisers all week long in an effort to assist with funeral costs.
At both past and present students have come together for the common goal of helping their friends.
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“I think it’s a very close-knit community and everyone is coming together,” said Maria Becerra, counselor at Maine Prairie High School who along with English teacher Kathy Mauer has been supporting the students with the fundraisers. “There is no race, no color, no nothing and we are all together and we are dealing with the tragic loss of these two teenagers no matter what.”
At 1 p.m., today, students of will resume what they have been doing all week – washing cars and selling baked goods at at 1150 North First St., to raise funds.
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So far the students have raised about $3,000 for the cause, with another car wash/bake sale fundraiser planned on Saturday at the on 1305 North First St., beginning at 11 a.m. All money raised during the fundraisers will be split evenly between the Gaona and Silva families, Becerra said.
A funeral mass was held today at 10 a.m., for Silva; Gaona’s funeral is scheduled for Monday, 11 a.m., at , 305 North Lincoln St., Dixon.
Costs associated with a funeral can reach staggering amounts said Chris Donhost, funeral director and manager of – the funeral home assisting the family of Gaona. But the funeral costs don’t necessarily come from the funeral home, Donhost said.
“Not all situations or funerals are the same,” Donhost wrote in an e-mail to Dixon Patch. “The range can go from several hundred dollars to several thousand. Services include many ‘outside expenses’ that are associated with the funeral, but not charges from the funeral home.”
Donhost said families may spend anywhere from $500 to $1,500 or more at the florist; between $300 and $2,000 on catering and reception costs; and spend on other charges from local newspapers, county fees and cemetery charges.
“The list goes on,” Donhost said. “In many cases the bulk of the cost is not from the funeral home. For example, I have seen a $10,000 funeral where only $2,000 was billing from the funeral home with the remainder in all the extra ‘outside expenses.’”
Donhost declined to talk about the specific amount that was being billed to Gaona’s family, but said that Bryan-Braker Funeral Home worked with the family to keep the costs down and provided them an extra discount.
Meanwhile, students at Maine Prairie have been doing their best to cope with the deaths of their classmates Becerra said.
“I think the way they are dealing with it is by helping the families,” Becerra said. “They feel that the only way they can help their friends is by helping the parents in need."
Also on Saturday, students have organized soccer games that will bring additional funds. The games will take place at Hall Park’s indoor fields 6:30-10 p.m., at a cost of a $5 donation, Becerra said.
To pay tribute to Gaona, who was an avid freestyle rapper, friends are also organizing a benefit concert to assist the cause. Anyone who wants to be a part of this concert is asked to contact Patrick Nagel at (916) 384-5932.
In addition, donation boxes have been set up at many Mexican restaurants and bakeries throughout Dixon, including 7-11 on North First Street. The boxes show photos of Gaona and Silva and a short description about the accident that took their lives. On Monday, students will be collecting the donation boxes, Becerra said, in hopes that the people of Dixon will give more.
Funeral funds have been set up for both of the teens. Silva’s fund is set up at under Maria Elena Zarate, account #1346167. Anyone wishing to donate to Gaona’s fund can do so by making the donation at , the one in Dixon is located at 178 North First St., and donating to the Delfino Gaona Funeral Fund.
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