Cape community celebrates two lives suddenly taken

Family and friends celebrated the lives of Priscilla and Eduardo Saez of Milton with the same kind of energy and enthusiasm many said the couple carried throughout their daily lives.

And just as the couple was close in life, they will remain so in death. They were buried together in a coffin made for two.

More than 1,100 people attended the service at Eagles Nest Fellowship Church June 15 that gathered family, friends and the many people who knew the couple as students and as employees of Cape Henlopen School District.

Funeral director Bennie Smith, who has presided over thousands of funerals, said that for him, the special-ordered double casket made this one unusual. "I never had this before," he said.

"Both families were involved and the funeral turned out nice," he said.

The Saezes died in a violent crash near Lincoln June 5.

Eduardo, commonly known as Mikey, was a custodian at Cape Henlopen High School from which he also graduated after playing lacrosse and football while a student. Priscilla, known as Cil, graduated from Sussex Central High School and worked in the cafeteria of H.O. Brittingham Elementary School. She also drove Mariner students who attend the Academic Challenge.

They are survived by three children – one who attends University of Delaware and two in the Cape Henlopen School District.

The couple was traveling southbound on Route 113 when Priscilla suffered a massive heart attack or passed out while driving, a family member said, based on a report from the Medical Examiner's Office. Both died at the scene after running head-on into a pick-up truck traveling north, police said.

A benefit for the children will be held 2 to 9 p.m. June 30 at Irish Eyes in Milton. The event will include food sales and a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit the Saez family.

An account also has been established at Community Bank Delaware in the name of The Saez Family Benefit fund.