One week after losing both of her children in a murder-suicide, a Brevard County mother joined family, friends and neighbors Wednesday night for a prayer vigil honoring their lives.
Five-year-old Aria and 7-year-old Remy were found dead inside a Cocoa home on Oct. 7. Police believe their father shot and killed both children before taking his own life.
Wednesday night, their mother, Olivia Piccolo, spoke with News 6 as loved ones gathered in Rockledge to remember the children.
“Just about remembering them and trying to bring some hope that one day will feel okay,” Piccolo said, describing the purpose of the vigil.
She said the past week has been difficult to comprehend.
“I’ve been okay, but I think I’m still kind of processing it all, really,” she said. “I think I’ve kind of not accepted it fully.”
Piccolo said having family nearby and seeing the outpouring of community support has helped her cope.
“It’s really amazing and it really helps just everything really,” she said. “And it shows me how much they were loved too.”
She said people have been reaching out with memories of Aria and Remy, including stories from people who only met the children once.
Piccolo has been writing those stories down, collecting memories of the impact her children made during their short lives.
“They had so many plans and we had plans,” she said. “They were just amazing kids. They really were.”
Police have not publicly established a motive for the killings, and Piccolo said she still struggles to understand how something like this could happen.
“We just didn’t even see it coming,” she said. “I just don’t know why. And I don’t think I’ll ever figure that out.”
But despite the circumstances of their deaths, Piccolo said she hopes people will focus on the joy her children brought to others rather than the actions of their father.
“I want to keep it about them, not about him,” she said. “Just the positive and the funny stories and the good stuff.”
A memorial service for Aria and Remy is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m.
Piccolo said she expects a large turnout.
“They loved people,” she said.