Relatives and friends gathered at a funeral home in Anaheim to grieve the loss of 31-year-old Arlet Hernandez-Contreras.
Hernandez, 31, and her two sons went missing last month. Authorities found Hernandez stabbed to death in La Puente on April 25.
Her two boys, 1-year-old Fernando and 4-month-old Emmanuel, remain missing. Authorities believe the boys' father and Hernandez's boyfriend, Shazer Fernando Limas, murdered them. Limas was charged with the crime on Monday. Authorities have spent several days searching a landfill for the two boys' bodies.
Hernandez's mother, Mayra, believes somebody knows where the children are at, but that they may no longer be in the United States and may be in Mexico.
"It's devastating especially with the children, we don't know if they're alive, if they're not, but just, we want to know because it's just prolonging her agony," said family friend Marla Escobar.
The family of Arlet Hernandez has set up a memorial fund to help cover funeral expenses. Donations of any amount can be transferred to the account with JP Morgan Chase, Account No. 466799314.