"Heaven Is Much Brighter Today": Marian High Mourns Two Alumna Lost Over the Weekend

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Marian High School honored the memory of two former students this morning. 23-year-old Alexa Navarro and 24-year-old Vanessa Bautista graduated in 2021 and died over the weekend.

Marian dedicated its bi-monthly Mass to Alexa and Vanessa today. The women were described as joyful students who contributed to a vibrant classroom community through Spanish language and history studies.

"It came as quite a shock to all of us. You spend so much time when you teach these students talking about their futures, and they had such little time to try and achieve what they had hoped to do,” says Marian High social studies department chair Lori Hamann, “The way I think about it is, heaven is much brighter today with these two young ladies up there as angels."

As native speakers of the Spanish language, Alexa and Vanessa were described as taking a hands-on approach during their upperclassmen years. Helping lead the classroom by example with their infectious personalities; and how they incorporated their love for the language and culture.

“Right now, we're starting Hispanic Heritage Month that just started September 15th, and goes through October 15th,” says Spanish teacher Suzanne Martinez, “and, obviously, I would want better circumstances, but, this is a nice month to remember them and to celebrate them in our Latino culture”.

Although their high school career was interrupted by the pandemic. Hamann still remembers the lasting impact they had on her. “I got them, 20-21 school year was right in the throes of COVID. But even though it was an interrupted year, I remember their smiles,” says Hamann, “They were such wonderful young ladies with such warm spirits, and they're going to be missed”.

Investigators are still looking into the events leading up to the women's disappearance. Niles police tell ABC57 they don't expect to learn more about how they died for approximately two weeks.

At this moment, the Marian community asks the public to keep Alexa and Vanessa’s families in its thoughts.