Funeral arrangements have been made for Francisco "Paco" Vasquez, a Calhoun teenager whose body was recovered from the Oostanaula River late Wednesday morning.

St. Clements Catholic Church Priest Father Joe Shaute has confirmed that the funeral will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday at the Calhoun Civic Auditorium. The visitation will be 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday at Thomas Funeral Home on Red Bud Rd.

A prayer vigil was held Wednesday at Calhoun High School where several hundred students were in attendance.

"We need each other," Shaute said to those in attendance. "Paco had really good friends. You guys made him be a better person and you are here because he made you be a better person."

April 7

Recovery divers have located the body of a missing Calhoun teen Calhoun Police Chief Garry Moss confirmed. The boy was recovered from the Oostanaula River.

Calhoun High sophomore Francisco "Paco" Vasquez, 16, was reported missing on Friday after he went swimming in the Oostaunala River near the city soccer fields and never resurfaced.

Moss said recovery teams using a boat borrowed from Murray County located Vasquez's body and then a dive team was sent in to retrieve the boy.

According to Shawn Elmore with the Department of Natural Resources, the recovery call was received at 10:38 a.m. and the body was recovered at 10:50 a.m. Among the recovery team was Sgt. Greg Shackleford of the Georgia State Patrol.

"I put my hands on him," said Shackleford.

Moss said Vasquez was recovered about 250- 350 yards from where he was first reported missing.

"There is a sense of relief in that the family now can have closure, I just wish it was sooner," Moss said.

Moss along with Emergency Management Director Richard Cooper said many agencies took part in the recovery efforts including local police and fire and rescue groups from surrounding counties. Moss said the community support was vital as well.

"We are thankful for everyone that came out to help without them the search wouldn't have been successful and would have lasted longer than five days," said Cooper.

Vasquez will be remembered as a friend and athlete, said Calhoun High School head soccer coach Ruben Maldonado.

"We are all in shock," Maldonado said. "His (family) is still in denial. We were hoping for the best. We are still praying."

Cooper told the Calhoun Times earlier this week that Vasquez was swimming with friends in the river on Friday when one of the boys began to struggle with the water. Cooper said Vasquez was attempting to save his friend when he went under the water and never resurfaced.

"Those boys are having a hard time with that," Maldonado said.

Cooper also said that the boys were swimming on their own accord, there were no school sanctioned events scheduled for Friday.

A candlelight vigil was held by family and friends near his home Tuesday night.

Tonight, friends and family are welcome to start gathering at the Civic Auditorium in Calhoun at 6 p.m., and a prayer vigil is planned for 9 p.m., also at the auditorium.

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