Woman, granddaughter killed in central El Paso flood are laid to rest

EL PASO, Texas -- Funeral services were held Wednesday evening for a 65-year-old woman and her 2-year-old granddaughter who died when an 'unprecedented' flash flood caused a living room wall of their central El Paso home to collapse onto them earlier this month.

Services for Dorothy Marin and little Rose Marin took place at Perches Funeral Home on Joe Battle.

The Marin family told ABC-7 that the water went up to the ceiling on the night of Aug. 12, tore out walls and furniture and moved the kitchen freezer to the living room.

The National Weather Service said central El Paso received an “unprecedented” six inches over a two-day period that led to the deadly flooding. The average rainfall for a year in El Paso is about 8.5 inches, the NWS has said.

The home at 3219 Nashville was built more than 50 years ago from the ground up by little Rose’s great grandad. While the home may never have that same family feeling to it, there are still ways to rebuild it.

The family has already filled three big dumpsters with damaged belongings.

If you want to help the family get back on their feet, you can donate to this GoFundMe account.

"You just don't ever expect something like this to happen, who drowns in the middle of their living room in the middle of the desert,” Renee Marin, Dorothy’s sister in-law, said.

"That first night it was back and forth, back and forth, they have a pulse, they don't have a pulse, they have a pulse they don't have a pulse,” she added.

"Everyday never gets easier, that's the worst part about it,” Matthew Marin, Dorothy’s son, said. “She was my niece but I loved her like she was my own daughter. They would have to literally pull her out of my arms to get her away from me.”