After weeks of frantic fundraising, the family of David Woolman, 23, is finally able to relax after receiving his body from China.
"It's a big sigh of relief," said his aunt Kristy Garcia of Carson City. "It was an exhausting experience. We really didn't have time to mourn, we were so busy. It was a mad rush to raise the money and do the paperwork."
A funeral is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home followed by a burial at the Genoa Cemetery. A visitation will be 6 p.m. Friday at FitzHenry's.
The family was devastated to hear Woolman had died in China, where he had moved from Carson City to teach English about a year earlier. But their grief turned to panic when they were notified it would cost $12,818 to bring his body home or it would disposed of by the Chinese government.
A story that ran March 10 in the Nevada Appeal was reposted on social networking sites and published around the world. Garcia said she read reports that had been posted in India, the U.K. and all across China.
Some people sent donations or offered technical help, while others offered proceeds from eBay sales or just posted the information.
"It went crazy on Facebook and Twitter, to the point where famous people were reposting it," she said. "I did not expect that at all."
She said the family has been buoyed by the support.
"It's happy, but sad," she said. "You feel good inside because so many people helped."
The details surrounding Woolman's death remain unclear.
The body arrived in Reno on Saturday. The funeral and viewing are open to the public. People wishing to speak at the funeral should submit a copy of their remarks to the funeral director during Friday's viewing.
Garcia expects the funeral to begin the grieving process for the family.
"Once you get to the funeral and you see him, the reality sets in," she said. "It's a very sad situation."
SERVICES SET
WHAT: Services for David Woolman
WHEN: Viewing 6-8 p.m. Friday; funeral 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the burial at the Genoa Cemetery
WHERE: FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home, 1380 Highway 395, Gardnerville
