Funeral service held for Bennetta Bet-Badal, victim of San Bernardino attack

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (KABC) -- Family and friends of Bennetta Bet-Badal, who was killed in the San Bernardino terrorist attack, gathered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rancho Cucamonga for her funeral service on Monday.

Bet-Badal was one of the 14 victims killed by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik in the Inland Regional Center on Dec. 2.

MORE: The 14 victims of the San Bernardino terrorist attack

"What happened will not be forgotten easily. Their precious souls will be missed dearly," Rev. Father Samuel Dinka said during Bet-Badal's service on Monday.

Flowers and tributes to the 46-year-old mother of three crowded the altar as clergy performed a portion of the service in the Assyrian language.

Bet-Badal, the only child of Iranian parents, fled to the U.S. at the age of 18 to escape Islamic extremism and the persecution of Christians in the wake of the Iranian revolution.

She first settled in New York City, but eventually moved to Rialto.

She married her husband, a police officer, in 1997 and they had three children, ages 10, 12 and 15.

"Her love and devotion to Arlin and the kids, her loyalty to family, friends, colleagues and clients, her unshakable faith and faithfulness give us reason to celebrate her unfinished life," Bet-Badal's cousin Domarina Awdow said.

Pictures of Bet-Badal's life played on a screen as Christmas music was sung in the background.

Her 15-year-old daughter sang "Silver Bells," which was her mother's favorite Christmas song.

Bet-Badal graduated from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona with a degree in chemistry and took a job as a health inspector with San Bernardino County.

MORE: Hundreds gather to pay tribute to San Bernardino victims

She was attending the holiday luncheon when Farook and Malik burst into the IRC and opened fire.

At the time of her death, she was bringing Christmas presents to her co-workers.

"The ultimate team player who never complained and was the backbone of the plan check program," her manager Corwin Porter, the Assistant Director of Public Health, described Bet-Badal.

Bet-Badal will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn in Glendale.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Bet-Badal's children. You can learn more about how you can help and donate here.