District classes to be canceled or held virtually as Belle Vernon hosts young student's funeral

Classes at Belle Vernon Area’s Marion Elementary School will not be in session Wednesday, as the community gathers to bid farewell to one of the school’s young students.

Instruction will be provided remotely that day for students at other district schools — including the high school, where a funeral service will be held for Aria Woznick, 6, of North Belle Vernon. The service will begin at 10 a.m. in the high school auditorium.

A kindergarten student at Marion Elementary, the girl was struck by a car Friday morning on Fayette Street. She was headed to her bus stop with her two older siblings at the time, according to North Belle Vernon police Chief Eugene Lipari.

She was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where she died.

The district decided to close Marion Elementary so students, staff and families could attend Wednesday’s funeral, according to Belle Vernon Area superintendent Kenneth A. Williams.

District administrators offered use of the 813-seat auditorium at no cost when funeral planners were looking for space to accommodate an expected large crowd for the service, according to Shelby Ferguson, funeral director at Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory in Belle Vernon, which is handling arrangements for the girl.

“They didn’t hesitate to offer that,” Ferguson said of the district. At the funeral home, he said, “If I get over 200 people, it’s a little crowded.”

A large crowd turned out for a candlelight vigil during rainy conditions Monday night to remember Aria and console her family. The vigil was held outside First Presbyterian Church on Fayette Street, not far from where the girl was struck.

Several of those attending recalled her high spirits and spunk.

“I know that she is smiling and laughing and running around heaven, causing a ruckus just like she did here,” said the Rev. Mary Kay Glunt, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, who led the vigil.

Therapy dogs were on hand at the vigil to provide additional comfort.

On the day of the collision, the district provided counselors at the school to support students and staff. Counselors also were available the following day at the North Belle Vernon Fire Department social hall.

Counseling services continued to be offered to students and staff on Monday and Tuesday, Williams said.

“Additionally, teams of therapy dogs have been deployed from HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response,” he said. “California Area School District has also offered to send a team of therapy dogs on Thursday, for which the district is immensely grateful.”

A fire department bingo fundraiser on Sunday netted close to $11,000 to assist the Woznicks. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $51,000 was raised in additional donations for the family through a GoFundMe page.

“The community has been awesome,” Ferguson said.

The Rev. Bobbie Hineline of Latrobe United Church of Christ will officiate at Aria’s funeral. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery at a later date.