Vera family mourns, looks forward

(UPDATED WITH VIDEO) Maria Vera's family and friends reflected on the life of the vibrant 22-year-old mother, who cherished each moment with her two young children and who was taken from them too soon by a brutal act.But as they looked back, they focused on moving forward.The Rev. Brad Hayes, associate pastor of the North Fairfield House of Prayer, said it's difficult to imagine what good could come of a senseless tragedy -- an attack allegedly at the hands of Vera's husband, Jeremy Gallant.But rather than asking why, Hayes urged them to hold Vera close to their hearts as they concentrated on making a difference in the lives of others devastated by domestic violence."We know that all things work together for God, to those who are called according to his purpose," Hayes said, quoting Romans 8:28 as he spoke to about 100 people who gathered in the gymnasium at Western Reserve High School to remember Vera. "God has put us here in this purpose to make sure this doesn't go on again in the world."Just four years earlier, as she accepted her high school diploma, Vera had walked across the same stage adorned Saturday with candles and dozens of photographs.She'd moved back to her hometown of La Pryor, Texas, for a short time, then returned to Norwalk last December to give her husband another chance, her stepmother, Beverly Vera, said through tears.Vera, a cosmetologist, had been working to achieve a better life for her children, 2-year-old Jeremy Jr., or "J.J.," and 9-month-old Corina.She had started taking online classes in psychology and had begun attending church in North Fairfield.Vera appeared to be moving forward the morning of June 1, when she went to the home her estranged husband shared with his mother to collect her things. But even after deputies say he stabbed her repeatedly with a screwdriver, Gallant still controlled Vera as machines kept her alive in the hospital, her family said."She was kept on life support about 10 days more than she should have been and was unable to donate her organs for that reason," Beverly Vera said. "We want to make sure no one else has to go through that."The family hopes to change the law that allowed Gallant to remain her legal guardian until he signed over his control, they said during the memorial service. They've already contacted lawmakers and will be circulating a petition at fundraisers for Vera, where they hope to raise money to bury her next to her mother in Texas.Vera's sister has been granted temporary custody of the two children while Gallant is in jail facing charges that include attempted aggravated murder, expected to be upgraded to murder, officials have said.Vera's friends said her untimely death was a startling reminder of the realities of domestic violence.Classmate Tara Horvath, 22, said she and Vera developed a strong bond forged by the shared experience of abusive relationships."This was a major wake-up call," said Horvath, who has since left the father of her child and is pursuing a career in health care as she raises a young son and daughter. "It really could have been me. Through this, I hope people can be made aware that this can happen in small towns; this can happen anywhere. Maria's fight is our fight."