The funeral for a 9-year-old Ravenna girl who died May 7 after what her family describes as an “accident” will be May 23 in Akron.
Newcomer Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements, on May 14 posted Xandria Mancuso’s obituary on its website. The 9-year-old was a fourth grader at West Main Elementary School in Ravenna.
An investigator with the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said May 14 that the girl’s cause of death was still listed as “pending,” and that the Portage County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Visitation for the young girl who was called “Zayzay,” will be 4 to 6 p.m. May 23 at the funeral home at 131 N. Canton Road in Akron. A funeral service will immediately follow.
“Xandria enjoyed listening to music and her artistic talents blossomed early, leading her to win many awards that celebrated her creativity and imagination,” the obituary stated. “She cherished all her time spent with family more than anything. She never failed to brighten up a room with her infectious smile and laughter. As we remember Xandria, let the memories she left behind be in our hearts and the light she brought into our lives shine forever.”
In addition to her mother, survivors included her father, Leonard Jones; siblings and “bonus siblings;” her grandmother; great-grandmother; uncles; cousins and other relatives and friends.
The girl’s mother, Taylor Mancuso, has shared on her Facebook account a Record-Courier article stating that counseling was being made available to students at the school. After encouraging students to take advantage of any help they need, she asked parents who find any photos of the incident in which her daughter died to turn them over to police.
Mancuso stated in her post that she couldn’t share details of the incident because an investigation is pending.
“I will say this … What happened Xandria didn’t deserve,” the mother wrote. “Xandria carries a legacy and has touched everyone. Her story will hopefully help save other kids from certain dangers that are lurking!”
Children express their grief
Taylor Mancuso told the Record-Courier that her daughter’s classmates have been finding ways to reach out to her and her family.
Last weekend, she said, a group of neighborhood children created chalk art in her daughter’s memory in their Ravenna Township neighborhood.
“Died at 9. RIP Zay,” stated one message. Another message urged the girl to “make it to heaven” and “enjoy life in heaven.”
Taylor Mancuso said children also “showed up and showed out with love for Zay,” sending flowers, candy and bracelets to the family. Her classmates at West Main, she said, are working on poster boards at school that will be displayed at the funeral home.
Community support
Tamarack Ridge, the skilled nursing facility in Kent where Taylor Mancuso is employed, planned a May 15 fundraiser for the family. The fundraiser includes a “grab-and-go” meal fundraiser, raffle and a T-shirt sale. The raffle drawing was to take place May 19.
One of Mancuso’s colleagues also set up a GoFundMe account, which had raised nearly $8,000 for the family a week after the girl’s death.
Tanya Holcomb, director of nursing at Tamarack Ridge, stated on the page that “our entire community” was touched by the story of the child’s death. Funds raised will go to living expenses and funeral bills, the post stated.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Funeral details set for Ravenna girl who died in ‘accident’
Reporting by Diane Smith, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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