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Memory of twin sisters who died now lives on in scholarships for classmates

Posted at 4:45 PM, Apr 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-03 17:18:31-04

Lizeth Pantoja misses her friends, twin sisters Cassandra and Catherine Colon. "I know that they would have been here they would have been good people."

The sisters died in 2015 when their home went up in flames due to an electrical problem. Neighbors tried to help the girls get out.

Four years later, a scholarship was named in memory of both girls.

Lizeth got one of the awards: "I feel honored to have the opportunity but at the same time I get emotional. I know that they are being missed."

Another friend, Maricela Saucedo, was also awarded a scholarship: "I often do think about them and I was surprised when I got the scholarship."

Maricela remembers the first time they met: "I shared gum with the table, there were four people. I ended up giving Cassandra one, and ever since then we kind of had a bond because of that gum."

Lizeth shared her moments with her friends: "Cassandra was not afraid to express her feelings like she would tell what she felt. It didn't matter what people thought about her and that's what I liked about her. And Catherine she was like really shy but very friendly."

When these high school seniors graduate next month, it will be bittersweet. The twins would have graduated with them.

Maricela thinks about the twins often. "Always love everybody around you because you never know when it's going to be the last day."

The girls will graduate on May 28 in the school gymnasium.

The organization Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County contributed to the scholarships.