Funeral services set for passenger killed in NJ Transit bus wreck

NEWARK -- Funeral services have been set for the passenger killed last week when two NJ Transit buses collided in a busy downtown intersection in Newark.

Viewings for Jesy Garcia will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Gorny and Gorny Funeral Home in Elizabeth, her family members announced. A private graveside service will be held afterward.

Garcia, 49, from Newark, was one of two people killed when the two buses crashed at the intersection of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard on Aug. 19.

Investigators said this week they are still working to determine what caused the crash, which also killed one of the bus drivers, Joseph Barthelus, 70, and injured 17 other people. Officials did not have an immediate update on the status of the investigation Friday.

Family members described Garcia as a loving mother and grandmother, and a hardworking assembly line leader at a Newark factory - where she was headed on the day of the crash.

Until a few months ago, Garcia's kids say she was able to walk to work, but since her apartment building burned down, the native Newarker had moved to a further location in the city, causing her to use the bus for her short commute.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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