Woman killed in Gulfgate grocery store crash remembered

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It was an emotional day for friends and family of a local mother who was killed while protecting her child from an oncoming car.

It's now been one week since Carla Sanchez was hit by a car inside an H-E-B in the Gulfgate area.

The one thing we're learning from family and friends at Grace Community Church is that Sanchez loved being a mother. We already knew a week ago, witnesses say she died protecting her little 2-year-old girl, Valerie, inside that H-E-B.

Just after 10am, Sanchez's body arrived at the church off the Gulf Freeway and was brought inside.

About a half hour after, family and friends, some all the way from Mexico, poured in, prepared to say good bye to the 31-year-old.

We also got a first look at the little girl she leaves behind -- young Valerie, who according to witnesses, Sanchez pushed out of the way when a car came barreling into the grocery store.

Family describe Sanchez as a God-fearing woman, who loved her three children.

They can't make sense of this tragedy They do tell us all, it should be a reminder that tomorrow is not promised.

"She was a nice person," said relative Jaasiel Sanchez. "She came to church, told me to get closer to God. I'm going to listen to her and try to be a better person."

"We're giving a message to everybody how important it is to love each, because you never know if there's another day," added her sister, Idalia Sanchez.

Family didn't want to comment on H-E-B or really the 74-year-old woman who caused the crash.

HPD says they're still waiting on blood results before deciding whether to charge or cite her.

From those here on the ground, Sanchez will leave behind a big void and will leave three children without a mother.