A multitude of friends, school personnel and relatives of Allison Rabstejnek gathered at a Seven Lakes church Thursday afternoon to bid a final goodbye to the Pinecrest High School junior.

Rabstejnek, 16, died Saturday in a one-car accident on Main Street in Taylortown. She was on her way to the high school to prepare for a band competition later that day when she lost control of her car on a wet road. The Volkswagen Beetle slid off the road and struck a tree on the driver's side.

The Revs. Don Welch and Fran Stark officiated the funeral, held at Seven Lakes Chapel in the Pines in Seven Lakes.

In a moving homily, Welch compared his relationship to Allie, who was an active member in the church and who worked in the children's center, as to a family member.

"I loved (her) as if she were my fourth granddaughter," he told the more than 300 mourners in attendance.

"I cry out with you and shout the question, why, why, why? I want to blame somebody -- anybody -- for taking this beautiful girl away from us. God, we cry out, why did you take her away?"

Welch said the response was not immediately forthcoming.

"I wait for God to answer me (but) all I hear is the 'sound of silence.' Where are you God? Where were you last Saturday? Where are you now when we need you so much?"

Welch said that God was "as angry and as sad" at Allie's death as was anyone, but that in the midst of the tragedy, "I bring you love and peace."

Welch urged the assembly to remember Allie's "beauty, wit, kindness, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and especially her love for children. Think about these things and God will give you peace."

Welch encouraged everyone to remember Allie through the words of the hymn, "I Would Be True."

"I would be true for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave for there is much to dare. I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless; I would be giving and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

"That was Allie," he said.

Moore County Schools' officials in attendance at the funeral included Superintendent Aaron Spence and board member Ed Dennison.

"Allie's family is in our thoughts and prayers during this terrible time," Spence said. "I can't imagine what they are going through."

Dennison reflected on the number of people Allie influenced during her short life.

"There are many here who knew Allie through school, but there are also a lot who knew her outside of high school as well," he said. "The influence she had on people at only 16 years of age is amazing."

In a statement released Monday through Moore County Schools, Pinecrest Principal Joel County said that the school family was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students, junior Allie Rabstejnek. In addition to taking several advanced placement courses, Allie was very active in extracurricular activities such as marching band, the swim team and more."

Allie was also a member of the National Honor Society and the French club. She was a "valued employee" of Cook-Out restaurant.

Welch said the church is planning several memorials for Allie, including the placement of her ashes in a niche, or ornamental recess, in the wall outside the children's department. He said a permanent memorial will also be discussed this week.

Memorial contributions may be made to Seven Lakes Chapel in the Pines, 2125 Seven Lakes South, West End, NC 27376 in memory of Allison Rabstejnek.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot.com.

See more in Sunday's edition of The Pilot.