Danielle Nicole Williams, 7, was
remembered during a memorial
service yesterday.

Hundreds gather at the funeral
of Danielle Nicole Williams, 7,
killed in the landslide
at Sacred Falls

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

On a beautiful, sunny day -- much like the one that drew her family to Sacred Falls on Mother's Day -- hundreds of friends said goodbye to Danielle Nicole Williams at Hickam's Nelles Chapel.

Danielle, 7, was among eight people killed by a landslide.

"Some of you are probably wondering why," said Chloe Woodington, one of five children who spoke yesterday at Danielle's funeral "Others may be a little upset.

"I believe 10 days ago Danielle served as my guardian angel and will continue to look over me until I have completed my mission."

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Jim O'Brien holds his sons -- James, left, and Kenny --
close to him. Williams died last week in the
landslide at Sacred Falls.

Chloe, a baseball teammate of Danielle's older brother, Dorian, was also injured at Sacred Falls. She reportedly had to have toes on her left foot amputated because they were crushed.

Danielle and her brother had gone to Sacred Falls with their adoptive parents, Staff Sgt. Anselmo DeSaavedra and his wife, April, who is the sister of the children's mother, Valerie Whiteside.

Three days ago, April DeSaavedra wrote a message from Danielle for the memorial service program.

It reads:

"To all of you who have gathered today, I have just a few things I need to say.

"You see, God needed an angel and I volunteered. So when you need me, just say so and I will appear. You may not see me but I'll be there, with lots of love to show you how much I care.

"To all those people who tried so hard to save me, I thank you, not once or twice, but to infinity. And to all of my family and all of my friends, remember, for me it's the beginning and not the end.

"Finally, it is to all that I say, don't cry for me now or any other day, 'cause I'm in a better place where there is no pain, waiting patiently for the day when I'll see you again."

Patrick Freitas, son of Kauai Police Chief George Freitas, tried to help Danielle after she was injured.

"She was in pain and I felt so helpless," Freitas said. "All I could do was try to comfort her. I wish I could have done more.

"Nothing prepares you for what I saw up there. It shook me up for a couple of days. I wanted to be here today. ... It's closure."

Family spokesman Mitchell Quinn, an Air Force senior master sergeant, says the Sacred Falls tragedy cuts deep.

"In the military we expect to bury friends," he said. "But we never expect to bury a child."