Memorial Service Scheduled for Student Killed in Crash

A public memorial service has been scheduled by family members of a student for Saturday evening in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The service for 16-year-old Annamay Rebecca Celine Naef will be held at 6 p.m. at Green Hills Chapel, 27501 South Western Ave.

Friends bringing collages, pictures or banners to the service are asked to come earlier, at 5 p.m., with these items. Those planning to attend were asked by the family to wear pink or zebra stripes in honor of Annamay.

The Peninsula High junior was killed in a rainy-day crash early Wednesday morning when the car she was riding in on the way to school hit a pole near Hawthorne Boulevard and Palos Verdes Drive North. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

In lieu of flowers, family asked that donations be made in Annamay's name to Ride To Fly, P.O. Box 4991, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274.

Flowers and banners from Peninsula High students and staff were delivered to Annamay's family, Peninsula High Principal Mitzi Cress said. 

In an email sent by Cress late Wednesday to students and parents, she said "today we experienced our worst nightmare."

"This is a tragic loss for our entire school community," she said in the email.

Palos Verdes Patch readers shared their memories of Annamay after learning of her death: 

• "Annamay was my neighbor: I watched her grow from a little girl who LOVED her animals, into a beautiful young woman who was a dedicated and talented rider. My heartfelt condolences go out to her parents and her sisters." —
• "My girls and I watched Annamay ride like the wind at the City Celebration, my camera rarely left her, she is a beautiful girl and I'll never forget the announcer yelling out most of the time, 'Show 'em how its done, Annamay!' God bless her family and friends." — The Burger Family (Rolling Hills Estates)
• "I have watched Annamay grow up in our neighborhood, at Rancho Vista & PVIS, and on the horse trails into a beautiful young lady. ... She was a sweet and kind soul for your 16+ years and our entire family will sorely miss her. She was a compassionate horse and animal lover." —
• "Annamay was a sweet, wonderful, fun loving young girl. I will miss our encounters on the trails. Her beauty and kindness will be greatly missed by so many." —