Family and friends gathered on Friday to remember the life of Denisse Ramos, also known as Denisse Lopez, who died in a car crash last weekend in Overland Park.
Ramos was 25 years old and pregnant at the time of the crash.
On Friday, her family and friends held a service at All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kan.
“The church was full. Friends, families, cousins, people she worked with,” explained Ramos’ sister-in-law, Grisanti Jimenez. “It was something beautiful she left behind.”
“She was such a sweet person. Kind-hearted, gentle, soft-spoken,” said Liliana Gonzalez, a cousin of Ramos. “She was just an awesome, amazing person.”
Shawnee resident Raphael Sherman, 21, is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection to the crash on Sunday. According to police, Sherman ran a red light and crashed into two cars after trying to speed away from officers following a traffic stop. Ramos was driving one of the cars that was hit.
Family members say doctors were able to deliver the baby after the crash.
“[The baby] is doing all right. His mom fought for his life,” said Jimenez. “We are mourning her death but she gave us a blessing. She gave us that baby boy.”
Family members said the boy was named after his father.
Various community donation drives were held in the days following the tragic crash.
Friends of Ramos held a donation drive on Friday at Christ the King Elementary School to help collect baby items to give to her family.
Also, a GoFundMe page was created in honor of Ramos. As of Friday evening, the fund had more than $4,500 in donations.
Sherman will be back in court on Jan. 21. He faces three to 10 years behind bars for the involuntary manslaughter charge.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
