Funeral for victim Roberta Drury in the Buffalo convenience store shooting

The latest victim of the massacre at Buffalo’s Tops Friendly Market was remembered for her “love and compassion” on Saturday.

Mourners gathered at Syracuse’s Ascension Church to say goodbye to Roberta Drury, 32, who was killed along with nine others in an alleged racially motivated attack by Conklin resident Payton Gendron, 18, last week. NY.

“Last Saturday, May 14th, our corner of the world changed forever. lives ended. Dreams were shattered and our state was plunged into mourning,” Brother Nicholas Spano said during the funeral service.

Drury grew up in the Syracuse area and moved to Buffalo 10 years ago to care for her brother who was recovering from leukemia.

“Roberta reflected God’s love every time she cared for her brother, every time she greeted someone in her neighborhood or on her street. Every time she spoke to friends and family,” he said. “She was that light that shone through whatever darkness there might be.”

He said Drury had “a stamina and a tenacity that was both inspiring and enviable”.

After the service, Drury’s sister, Amanda Drury, said, “Robbie was more than just a name.”

“We just want to make sure everyone remembers her smile, her love, her compassion,” she said. “If everyone could treat everyone with a little more love and compassion, we wouldn’t have cases like this.”

Katherine Melnicki, a friend, called her “a special person.” Unique.”

“Even though our day could be hell, this girl always put a smile on my face. Always,” she said.

The funeral was the second for a victim of the Buffalo shooting. Heyward Patterson, 67, was buried on Friday.