Sienna Loren Maloney died on Monday at Pequannock Valley Park
OAKLAND -- Hundreds of members of the Pompton Plains and Pequannock communities were in mourning Friday with the Maloney family, whose three-year-old daughter, Sienna, died earlier this week at Pequannock Valley Park.
Sobs and shudders of grief echoed through the quiet church Friday morning as Sienna's family wheeled in her small, lilac coffin with a golden-haired teddy bear seated on top.
Rev. Thomas Paul Lipnicki, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oakland, told mourners during the funeral Mass the community has been there for the Maloney family and they must continue to "pray for them, support them, love them."
Sienna, Lipnicki said, was an innocent girl who was filled with love.
"We know that a day will come when there will be laughter once again," he said. "We know that. We miss her laughter, and we miss the milestones (her sister) is going to experience (without her). But there will be joy and happiness as well as the memory of her little sister named Sienna."
Sienna is survived by her parents, her sister, her grandparents and other relatives.
Pequannock police have said Sienna's drowning at PV Park on Monday was "an unfortunate accident" that happened in an instant when her mother lost sight of her. Lifeguards found Sienna within minutes of being alerted by her mother, but they and medical personnel were unable to resuscitate her.
A fundraiser set up for the Maloney family on GoFundMe has raised nearly $31,000 as of 2 p.m. on Friday.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.