Metro

Teary-eyed sisters, best friend say goodbye to Victoria Soto

Jillian and Carlee Soto, the two younger sisters of tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Victoria Soto, gave heartfelt, emotional eulogies today, saying goodbye to their “hero”

Below are the eulogies from Jillian, Carlee and Victoria’s best friend, Rachel Schiavone.

Carlee Soto:

“If it wasn’t for Vicki, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Because of Vicki, I am a college student. She pushed me to the point where I had to sign up for classes, just to get her off my back. Because of her, I am such an amazing friend, because she taught me what it was to be one. She was truly my best friend and always will be. Because of Vicki, and can go through this and be as strong as I am. My sister gave her life to save her kids, and if that’s not true strength and heroism, I don’t know what is. The expression ‘You don’t know what you have until it’s gone’ is true. My best friend is gone, and I’m so lost without her. I laid in bed writing this and didn’t know where to start, didn’t know what to say. Vicki was always there helping me write my essays, checking to make sure I wasn’t saying, ‘Um,’ ‘OK,’ ‘Uh,’ ‘Like.’ She would always tell me I’m in college, now. I was getting ready yesterday and had no idea what to wear. Vicki always picked out my outfit, because she knew 10 minutes before we had to anywhere I was up in her room, freaking out, not knowing what to wear. I didn’t get to see Vicki on Thursday or Friday, and the last time I saw Vicki was Wednesday night. She was making fun of me, of course. Mommy and I were picking out my classes for the spring when she walked in, nagging me for not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. She then decided to throw a pile of my papers onto the floor like it was nothing, then decided it would be funny to throw candy at me. And as we were throwing candy back and forth, Mommy yelled at us because the dogs were going to get the candy. This is how she was, and people close to her know this, know the fun and crazy Vicki. And I didn’t get to see her Thursday night, because, of course, she was doing something for school. She went to the Scholastic book fair to get books for her students — typical Vicki. It kills me that I’m never going to say ‘I love you’ one last time to her. The pain is unbelievable, but I know I can get through this thanks to Queen Victoria watching down on me. I love you so much, Vicki. And I am beyond proud to say I am Victoria Leigh Soto’s little sister.”

Jillian Soto:

“Over the past five days, people have been thinking of you as a hero, many hoping that they could do the things that you have done to touch the lives of so many, whether it be through your actions on that terrifying morning or through the way that you brought curiosity, excitement and joy to your students every day. Each of those are reasons why you are in so many people’s hearts, but truthfully you have been a hero to me for a lot longer than five days. You have been my big sister, the one I’ve always looked up to, the one I’ve always wanted to be like. When we were little I thought you had style, so I would take your clothes and wear them to school so I could look cool like you. When you would have friends over, I would always want to tag along and hang out with you guys. I admired you so much, and this has never stopped. Even when you enrolled at Eastern [Connecticut State University] for college, I knew exactly then that that’s where I wanted to go, and I did. You really are something special. You are beautiful, smart, funny, goofy, and you had amazing smile. You seemed to be good at everything, and you seemed to win at everything, too — even Bingo. Speaking of Bingo, do you remember when we would switch off each week at who would get to play Bingo with Bingo Gramma? Well …(unintelligble)…each week, you seemed to somehow find a way to outsmart me, and talk me into it being your week or your turn to go with her again, the same as if you’d done it again. Now that you’re in heaven, I can hear you saying loud and clear, ‘Jillian, I win again.’ Although there’s time to play Bingo Gramma, you didn’t have to outsmart me. You just needed to be an angel, an angel to the 19 children you protected, the 19 families who trusted you to the fullest, to the entire school that adored you, to a community that you helped bring together, and to people across the country that you gave faith to in this time. Somebody wrote me a letter about the recent tragedy that I would like to share with you: in it, it said they had to sit down with three small children, explaining to them that monsters sadly do exist out there. But they felt relief that because of my sister, they were able to tell them that superheroes also are very real. You are my superhero and I am so proud of you and all you have done in your 27 short years. I am so happy that you were my big sister, and please guide me as I try to take on this world without you. Now, heaven has a princess and a rockstar . . . and an amazing teacher Vicky. Love, your pain-in-the-butt baby sister Jillian.”

Rachel Schiavone:

“Vicki and I met freshman year of college and shared a dorm room together sophomore year, junior year and senior year. Vicki was a ball of energy with an incredible personality. She loved to dance, be silly, make people laugh and just do crazy things. She was always ready to have a good time and always up for anything. Her laugh was contagious and her smile would always make me smile too. For those of you who had the privilege of hugging Vicki you know that when she hugged you she put her whole heart and soul into every hug she gave. She would squeeze you so tight every time and you could always feel how happy and how excited she was to see you. Vicki loved chicken parm and in college she would make us all get in line so early just so that we could make sure to get a piece. She slept with her teddy bear at night with her fan on always and her eye mask. She loved to clean. She was crazy about being organized. Her favorite number was four and her favorite color as you all know by now was green. She loved ‘The Little Mermaid’ and one night in college when a boy came over to hang out with me, in the other room Vicki started blasting ‘The Little Mermaid’ song, ‘Go On and Kiss the Girl.’ I knew what she was trying to do though I don’t think that boy ever picked up on it. She was sarcastic and funny and so goofy but in the good way. She loved flamingos and she always called me Roni (sp?). If you were friends with her you probably had a nickname that she called you too. This past August when my boyfriend and I moved back to Connecticut after being in New York, Vicki was elated to have us home. We would meet up for dinners on weeknights and go out every weekend. She helped us move into our new condo and Vicki helped us set up our entire kitchen. She knew exactly where she wanted the plates to go and the dishes to go and I did not stop her. She was strong and totally fearless and it doesn’t surprise me at all that Vicki died protecting her kids. She loved them more than anything and bragged that this year she had the best first grade class ever. She talked about each of them and on Friday they were supposed to be making gingerbread houses. She loved seeing how excited the kids got and always prided herself on being the cool teacher at school. She stayed late every night working on lesson plans, billboards and special activities for the kids. We shared so many great memories together and Vicki I want you to know that I will never forget you. I’m honored to call you my best friend. From the bottom of my heart please know that you will never be forgotten – I promise. As you would say, I pinkie promise you Vicki to honor you every day that I live. I know how much you loved your kids, your angels. And I know that you’re in heaven now with all of them.”