There is silence around the coffin of the young Simone Gnoffo, the 18-year-old boy who died in a road accident in Palermo, on the hairpin bends of Monte Pellegrino. Under his house, on via Sicilia, there are hundreds of young people who cannot come to terms with it. They all wear a black t-shirt, without writings or designs, all black, like the emptiness and pain inside each of them.
Simone was a student in the IV B administration, finance and marketing class at the Einaudi-Pareto institute, located on via Brigata Verona, in front of his house. The whole school, teachers and students, take turns to bid him farewell. They embrace Anna Cusimano, Simone’s mother, who is accompanied by colleagues from the scientific high school Ernesto Basile, as she is a physical education teacher at that school. Simone’s family was very close-knit, which he loved deeply: his older sister Sofia, 23, dad Mimmo, and grandparents who continue to ask God why he took Simone and not them.
The eighteen-year-old was very close to all four of his grandparents and they adored him, so much so that Caterina asked Simone last October to accompany her to the altar on the day of their golden wedding. “No one speaks inside the room where Simone rests – says his aunt Lidia Esposito -. There is a chilling silence. You can only hear the cries and sobs of his friends and family. There are no words that can explain this pain, let alone console the family.”
The entire school community, shocked and saddened by the news, expresses condolences to the family and is particularly close to all the students who had him as a classmate and friend. There is also a heartfelt message from the headmistress of the Einaudi Pareto, Maria Rita Di Maggio: “Simone was one of ours. I am shocked and close to the family. I urge all young people to be careful and respect life responsibly so that such great suffering does not occur. On Monday, I will excuse the absence and authorize all the students in Simone’s class to attend the funeral.”
“Happy 18th birthday, my love. Finally – Simone’s mother had written in a public post on her son’s birthday – this day has arrived. A special day to remember with the wish, but I am also certain, that you will treasure all the emotions felt. I love you infinitely my love and I wish you always everything that can make you happy and satisfied with your life. I will always be by your side to support and encourage you.” Now it is Simone who will be by his mother’s side and watch over all those who have loved him and continue to hold him in their hearts.
Palermo, magliette nere e lacrime: il dolore dei compagni del ragazzo morto nell’incidente di Monte Pellegrino
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