NESCOPECK - The funeral for 17-year-old Britney Tongel is set for 1 p.m. today at the Heller Funeral Home, 633 Third St., in this Luzerne County borough.
Two separate viewings, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., were conducted Monday. Sunday night, some 200 family, friends and classmates gathered in Trevorton for a candlelight vigil in her honor, where they also delivered a message that bullying is a common problem that needs to be addressed.
Tongel lived with her foster parents, Terry and Lisa Laforme, along Route 225 in Trevorton, since late last school year, and previously lived in the Berwick area. She was born on Aug. 26, 1993, in Rhinebeck, N.Y., a daughter of David Tongel and Carey Torres, Berwick.
A sophomore at Line Mountain High School, she was found dead in her home Wednesday morning, reportedly by suicide. State police have yet to confirm the cause of death as their investigation continues.
Family and friends claim Tongel was the victim of relentless bullying, including recent posts two girls made at her social networking site that suggested she kill herself.
Police reported Friday they had seized Tongel's computer and are actively pursuing the bullying angle. The seizure of such property is standard police procedure with death investigations.