Mikey Muniz lived life to the max. When he played, he played hard. He loved his family, stood up for his friends, and he treasured his car.

It was in that car, a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, that Mikey and three of his friends perished in a horrific crash on Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township on Dec. 19.On Saturday, family and friends of the 17-year-old Palmerton teenager fill the spacious hall of Christ Evangelical Free Church, Mahoning Township to share memories and tears, hugs and laughter.The back of the hall is lined with posters bearing snapshots of Mikey throughout his short life: In his beloved Blue Bombers booster football jersey, number 83, now retired in his honor; grinning as he sits with his Grandpop and Nana on a Maine vacation; as a baby, splashing in a wading pool; as a toddler, wearing sunglasses; as a teenager, clowning with friends.His family sits facing the posters, accepting the hugs and pats, the hand squeezes and cheek kisses of what seems an endless line of mourners.Life will never be the same for his father, Michael S. Muniz; mother Tammy L. DeLorey-Reitz; and her fiance Timothy P. Schaub; sister, Taylor Schaub; and brothers, Austin DeLorey and Eric Reitz.Later, the Rev. Greg Laible leads a procession as the ark carrying the urn of Mikey's ashes is carried to the stage.Laible speaks of Mikey's smile, a smile that "would just envelop the room" when he walked in.He speaks of Mikey's love of all things physical, of biking, swimming, basketball, wrestling.Of racing. It was in the family blood, Laible says."He looked forward to racing, maybe right down the road," he says, referring to nearby Mahoning Valley Speedway."But his journey was cut short. Fitting enough, he had his final moments here on Earth in a car," he says.Later, Laible talks about the imperfection of man, and the saving grace of God.Mikey's friends speak, telling of his sense of humor, his drive to win at any sport he played.Ben DeLong, who lives across the street from the Muniz family, recounts the time they spent together, playing basketball, going to McDonald's for cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets in Mikey's beloved Chevy, and hanging out in Mikey's garage."He had a big heart. A really big heart," he says.Another friend, Denzel McQuay, weeps as he tries to talk about Mikey. A comforting hug from Laible gives him what he needs to continue."I took him under my wing like a little brother," he says, his words punctuated by tears.He speaks of the Muniz family as his own "second family," of a fishing trip he and Mikey were planning for the summer.Grandmother Pamela Gothard reads a poem titled "The Broken Cord," about the death of a loved one."My hope in life is that I will one day see my grandson again," she says softly as she steps down from the podium.Mikey's grandfather, William Gothard, says the "most difficult time of my life was last Friday. Nothing has shaken me like the news of losing him."Gothard speaks of the vacation in Maine, where Mikey ate lobster every day and tried to get a snapping turtle into their boat. He recalls trips to Knoebels, watching movies and playing video games with his grandson.Matthew Rabenold, Mikey's mother's cousin, reads a letter he has written to Mikey."You would be inspired to see how many people truly care, and miss you," he says.As Mikey's family and friends leave the church to heal their grief, many must also bear the loss of Mikey's friends.Nathaniel Murray, 16, and his sister, Courtney Murray, 13, and Austin Hunsicker, 16, also died in the crash, on Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township.