Friends say tearful goodbyes

On Aug. 18, Nicole Richards, 54, and her daughters, 17-year-old Alexa and 13-year-old Tessa were discovered dead in a backyard freezer. Husband and father Tony Richards confessed to the murders citing mounting financial problems in a typed letter he left for police.

Tony Richards was excluded from the ceremony and will have his own service planned by his sister.

High school boys failed to hold back tears and teenage girls across the church sobbed as pictures of their friends and "second mom" flashed across a giant screen at the front of the church. The photos show no signs of the physical or emotional abuse close friends claim Tony imposed on his family.

Instead, it showed Nicole as the life of the party at events hosted by her employer, Siebel Systems. Where there was a dance floor, Nicole took center stage. In group photos Nicole always had the biggest smile. Her worldly knowledge, responsibility and natural charms made her a regular go-to person at Siebel, said close friend and former co-worker Tanya Wills.

With photos standing in place of open caskets, Wills told the crowd to imagine Nicole and her daughters in a better place.

A place where Nicole's prepping a fantastic dinner party, Alexa is trying on many pairs of Gucci sunglasses and Tessa is making bets with friends for $100 instead of the $1 wagers she used to make, Wills said.

Despite attempts to lighten the mood, there was a serious reminder by Father Kieran McCormick.

"Now is the time to realize how richly blessed we are," he said. "We should linger over [the memories] because they are too rich not to share."

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com