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Burrell Football Player's Remembered At Candlelight Vigil

LOWER BURRELL (KDKA) -- It was a somber night in Lower Burrell as the community came together to remember and memorialize a high school athlete who suddenly collapsed at football practice and later died.

Noah Cornuet's Burrell High School classmates gathered on the football field for a candlelight vigil for their friend Thursday night.

"It was just such a tragedy and we'll just never be the same," Pam Cornuet, Noah's mom.

When a tragedy strikes at the heart of the Burrell community, they come together for support.

Hundreds of people, mostly students, gathered at the high school to mourn the 16-year-old and to try, in some way, to comfort his grief-stricken family.

"They're behind us, they've stuck with us and they just love us, and we didn't realize how much our son was loved by this community," said Ray Cornuet, Noah's father.

Noah died Wednesday at football practice. The cause of death, officials say was Atrial Myxoma, a heart tumor. It's a condition Noah didn't even know he had.

The vigil was organized by his friends who knew they had to memorialize the popular football player, wrestler and scout.

"We're just mourning the loss of the life he would have had, 'cause all we really wanted was for him to grow up and be a successful member of society," said Noah's mom. "Somebody who, even if he pumped gas, we didn't care, as long as he got up every day and went to work and helped others."

"I'm the big brother, he's the little brother. He's taller than me, he's bigger than me, but you can't replace him," said Shane Cornuet, Noah's brother. "I don't know what to say. We'll miss him, love him. Noah, thank you. I love you."

Funeral Arrangements for Noah:

-Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday

Duster Funeral Home, 347 E. 10th Ave. in Tarentum

-Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday

Puckety United Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell

-Family is asking that donations be made to the Burrell Education Foundation, 1021 Puckety Church Rd., Lower Burrell, PA 15068.

RELATED LINKS:
Local Football Player Collapses, Later Dies (8/6/14)
More Westmoreland County News
More Reports by Kym Gable

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