(NECN: Alysha Palumbo - Newtown, Conn.) - The bells tolled throughout Newtown and Fairfield, Conn., on Monday as the first two victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy were laid to rest.
Six-year-old Noah Pozner was described by his loved ones as “an impish, larger-than-life little boy.”
According to his obituary he was one of five siblings – including a twin sister, who survived the shooting.
Rabbi Yakov Barrows of South Fallsburg, N.Y., said, “There’s no adequate words that you can give, but just you being there -- it is a tremendous sense of comfort.”
Noah’s mother waived to mourners as she left her son’s service.
Those who attended the funeral say the family has been very strong in the face of this tragedy.
Scott Taylor of Fairfield said, “It was just amazing that the mother spoke and the older brother spoke and it’s just … I don’t know how they could have done it."
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Back in Newtown, six-year-old Jack Pinto was remembered as an avid sports fan who loved baseball, basketball and wrestling.
“The wrestling team, we had we just gave him a couple medals so he can show them off up in heaven show everybody how great of a wrestler he was,” said family friend Jack Wellman.
Jack was also a huge football fan – especially loving the New York Giants and wide receiver Victor Cruz.
"His favorite team is the Giants -- he talked about how great [Cruz] is, and I’m with him -- he’s really good,” said Luke Wellman.
Luke is friends with Jack’s older brother, Ben.
Luke said it was a nice tribute that Cruz wrote Jack’s name on his cleats for Sunday’s game.
“Ben got to talk to him privately and stuff -- now he’s like friends with him, which I think is really cool,” Luke said.
As the children of Newtown try to make sense of what has happened, it’s clear they don’t yet truly understand.
Parents are trying to grapple with that, too, as this community prepares for 24 more funerals in the days to come.
Caren Wellman said, “It’s a nightmare we aren’t waking up from."
Jack Wellman added, "And unfortunately there’s going to be a lot more. This is just one.”
The U.S. Postal Service has established unique P.O. Box for the public to send condolences to those impacted by the Newtown tragedy. Anyone who wishes to send an expression of comfort can send it to:
Messages of Condolence for Newtown
PO Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470
