Funeral Held For Derailment Victim James Ferrari Of Montrose, N.Y.

MONTROSE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) – A funeral was held Thursday morning for one of the victims of the Metro-North train derailment.

As CBS 2's Andrea Grymes reported, loved ones gathered in Montrose to remember the life of 59-year-old James Ferrari.

A hearse carrying Ferrari's body arrived around 10 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Divine Love. His wife of 20 years and their 19-year-old daughter led mourners inside, Grymes reported.

Friends had only positive words about Ferrari and support for the family he left behind.

"He just was a sweet guy. Worked an extra shift so he can live the dream, have the house in the suburbs, provide for his family," said Doug Armusewicz. "Words can't explain how they're doing. It's just tragic. There's only so much you can say -- let them know you're going to be there for them."

Charlie Ferrari, the victim's brother, said the train accident was "just not fair."  He also said that his brother had found what made him happy -- the love of his wife, Francie.

Friends told CBS 2 that Ferrari worked six days a week, traveling from Montrose to his job as super of a commercial building in Midtown. They said that train was the same one he had taken for years.

Ferrari was the first of the four derailment victims to be buried.

James Lovell, Donna Smith, and Kisook Ahn also lost their lives when the train carrying them to New York City took a 30 mph curve at 82 mph and careened off the tracks.

Funerals for Lovell and Smith were set for Friday and Ahn will be laid to rest on Saturday, Grymes reported.

The engineer behind the controls, William Rockefeller, remains suspended without pay while the investigation continues.

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