Body Pulled From Lake Michigan Identified As Aurora Teen
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A huge wave on Lake Michigan takes a teen's life, but family members finally have closure amidst their grief.
18-year-old Ivan Echevarria was walking with friends near Diversey Harbor back on February 25 when a wave swept him into the water. The Cook County medical examiner says the body pulled from Lake Michigan Monday is Echevarria.
Echevarria was a senior at East Aurora High School. He dropped out shortly before he died.
"He was a good son and hardworking and everything," said Angel Echevarria, Ivan's father.
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A staff member at East Aurora High remembers Echevarria as a funny and friendly student with a personality that "really attracted people to him."
Nadia Reyes is a member of Ivan Echevarria's family and says he wanted to be a mechanic.
"He had been working since he was really young - super young," she says. "He was so into cars. He liked racing. He had barely purchased his new car - a little new car. His own."
now she says - the family can lay him to rest.
"We're going to have our last goodbye for him," Reyes says.
The family has set up a gofundme page to help pay for the funeral costs.
Visitation is Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at James Funeral Services, 204 Hill Avenue, Aurora.
The funeral mass is Monday at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 711 Fulton Street, Aurora. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.
