Friends, family and classmates gathered Wednesday at St. John's Towamensing Lutheran Church in Palmerton to pay final respects to teen siblings killed last week in a fiery crash.

The memorial service was held to remember Nathaniel Murray, 16, and his sister, Courtney Murray, 13.Both died at the scene of the Dec. 19 crash in Lower Towamensing Township when the vehicle they were riding in crossed into the opposing lane of Dairy Road and struck an oncoming vehicle around 8:30 p.m.The vehicle struck a tree and caught fire."I knew my kids were loved, but I never expected this," Melissa Hollenbach, Courtney and Nathaniel's mother said Wednesday when entering the church. "I don't even know some of these people, but I don't consider them friends, I can consider them family."The Rev. Jody L. Neifert read a prayer remembering the siblings."We thank you God for giving us Nathaniel and Courtney to know and to love in our journey on Earth," he said. "Make us aware of the shortness and uncertainty of life so that we may turn our lives over to you."Hollenbach described her children as fighters, noting that even when times were tough they would do "anything for anybody."Mourners were reminded Wednesday to hug their family members often and remind them how much they are loved.The bond between Hollenbach and her children was never in question."Since he was 3, every night Nathan would say 'love you, mom, see you tomorrow,' before he went to bed," Hollenbach said.She chose the anthem, "Go Rest High on That Mountain," to be performed by Neifert during the service. Other hymns included "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Fly Away."Police said speed was a factor in the crash, which also killed 17-year-old Michael Muniz, of Palmerton; and 16-year-old Austin Hunsicker, of Bowmanstown.In the midst of reading Scripture, Neifert told the crowd that the world is not the way God intended it to be."Children don't do everything you ever told them to do," Neifert said. "But, you get a choice. We get a choice of loving our kids for who they are or writing them off. When the worst happens in this crazy world, it is God's choice to love us more, not write us off."Services for Michael A. Muniz, 17, of Palmerton, will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Christ Evangelical Free Church, 2420 Blakeslee Boulevard West, Lehighton. Call 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in the church.Services for Austin T. Hunsicker, 16, of Bowmanstown, will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at First United Church of Christ, 457 Delaware Ave., Palmerton.There are no calling hours.