Des Plaines Family Dies During Vacation In Mexico: School District

DES PLAINES, IL — A local teaching assistant and two of her children died last week while vacationing in Mexico. Brenda Correa, 41, and her sons, Leo, 15, and Armando, 13, were killed by a carbon monoxide leak in the house in which they were staying, a relative told the Daily Herald.

Des Plaines School District 62 confirmed with Patch that Correa worked in the district's SPARK program, an Illinois Early Learning and Development early learning program. Both Armando and Leo had attended Algonquin Middle School.

"This information is beginning to circulate in our community and via social media, which is why we wanted to make you aware of this tragedy once we had accurate information and permission from the family," Superintendent Michael Amadei said in a letter sent out to Early Learning Center families.

Daily Herald is reporting Correa and her sons, whose bodies were found by a family member on July 2, were staying at a family house in Michoacan, in west-central Mexico. An investigation is ongoing. Correa's husband and a daughter were not on the trip.

"Mrs. Correa was a valued member of our ELC learning community," Amadei said. "We are devastated by this loss as well as the loss of her children."

A bilingual funeral for the deceased is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, at St. Stephen the Protomartyr Catholic Church, 1280 Prospect Ave., Des Plaines.

"Grant eternal rest unto Brenda, Leonardo, Armando O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them and through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen," the church said in a Tuesday social media post.