Mourners say goodbye at funeral for family killed in Andover crash

NEWARK — The sound of weeping could be heard as the three caskets were rolled down the aisle of St. Michael's Parish church Friday.

Over 100 mourners gathered inside the church on Broadway as Andrew Benavente, 36, and his two children, Andrew Jr., 13, and Madelyn, 5, were laid to rest. The three were killed in a fiery head-on crash in Andover last week.

In attendance were numerous law enforcement members and first responders, some of whom acted as pallbearers for Benavente, of Newton, who was a retired Newark police and Essex County Sheriff's Office officer.

A somber mood pervaded through the church, as family members and friends observed Catholic Mass. Only the parish priest spoke during the service.

The hearses containing the three caskets were escorted to the church by police. Mounted police officers were present outside the church, and the street was blocked off so cars in the procession could park out front.

Andrew Jr., known as A.J., was a student at Halsted Street Middle School and Madelyn was a preschool student at Camp Auxilium School.

Digna Melendez-Benavente, Benavente's longtime fiancée, previously spoke to NorthJersey.com.

"My babies were precious. My husband was precious. People all over the world wish they had what I had," she said.

The crash that killed the Benaventes happened May 26 at about 4 p.m. near the Sparta Township line. Newton-Sparta Road near Limecrest Road was closed for more than five hours as police investigated. The investigation is ongoing, Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson said.

They died after their pickup was struck by Bruce Cseh, 22, of Blairstown, whose car crossed over the yellow lines and collided with Benavente's truck head on. Cseh also died in the crash.