Greig, Daughter Remembered for Being 'Invested' in Community

By Angela Hart

It was standing room only Thursday night at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, where a vigil was held for Janessa Greig, 13, and her mother Jacqueline, 44, who were among the four victims confirmed dead after a more than 50-year-old natural gas pipeline destroyed their Crestmoor neighborhood on Sept. 9.

More than 100 family and friends came from as far away as Mexico to honor the deceased and pay respect, said Father Dan Keohane of St. Cecilia.

The mood remained somber in the cathedral throughout the service and cries erupted sporadically in the crowd.

"This has been tough on the classmates and the parish, but more than that, the vigil is a sign that the whole community has been touched by this tragedy," Keohane said.

Keohane went on to say that the Greig family has been active in the church for more than ten years, and they were incredibly invested in their community.

"They were a passionate family," he said.

Some who came to the vigil were family and friends, but some merely wanted to show support.

"I work for PG&E in the law department," said Betsie Diamond. "I just felt we needed to be here."

"It's horrifically sad to lose these wonderful people," said Joanne Gallegos, 52, of Danville, who knows Jacqueline through family members.

"I came to support the family, Jacki and I have been friends forever," said Mayela Navarro, 34, of San Francisco.

Jacqueline, 44, was an employee at the California Public Utilities Commission for more than 20 years and her eighth-grade daughter was student body president at St. Cecilia Elementary School.

"I think it really hasn't sunken in yet," said Christina Lalor, 14, who now attends Covenant of the Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco but went to school with Janessa in 2009.

"A lot of people are talking about it at school and everyone is just really sad and depressed," Lalor said.

A Mass is planned for 11am Friday at St. Cecilia, 2555 17th Ave., in San Francisco.