More than 200 mourn 1-year-old girl who drowned at NYC day care center: ‘A beautiful spark’

More than 200 mourners packed a Bronx church Wednesday for the funeral of a 20-month-old “angel” who tragically drowned after being left unattended at a troubled day care center.

Little River Edima Wilson was remembered as a “beautiful spark” who greeted everyone with a smile and a cheery “hi” during services at St. Helena’s Roman Catholic Church in Castle Hill — where she was memorialized Wednesday, less than two weeks after she drowned in a day care pool.

“Oh God!” Ima Wilson, the toddler’s mom, wailed as the tiny white coffin was carried into the church, nearly collapsing as she was helped up the steps. “How is this happening.”

Inside, the small casket was draped in flowers and surrounded by photos of River and her family.

The Rev. Jorge Ramirez, the church’s pastor, said the girl was due to be baptized when she died.

“We all loved her, and we all come together to remember that beautiful spark that she enlightened in each one of us,” he said. “She was always smiling and saying hi to you, and that’s what we come today to remember, what she was to each one of us and how, as little as she was, always made us smile.”

Ramirez said River had a tendency to frolic during prayers at church services, embarrassing her parents — but bringing a smile to his face, prompting him to assure the family it was fine.

“Sometimes we see people and say, ‘I don’t like you,” the pastor said. “[River] would say, ‘I don’t care who you are. I’ll smile and say hi to you.’”

During the eulogy, River’s cousin, 14-year-old Naomi O’Boyle, remembered her as “an angel.

“In her short time here on earth, [River] taught us more than most people do in their life,” she said.

According to law enforcement sources, a 47-year-old staffer at the day care center left River alone for about 20 minutes while she cooked food, and returned to find the tot lifeless in the pool.

The operator of the day care center, identified in state records as Ana Gonzalez Feliz, has not commented publicly on the tragedy — and has not even responded to River’s family’s questions.

The family invited the media to attend the funeral in order to shed light on the need for better child care oversight in the state.