The smile was hard to miss.
As somber piano music played inside the sanctuary, nearly all the photographs shown overhead in a video montage depicted a beatific smile on the peace officer’s face.
Almost every speaker who on Friday addressed the rows of family, friends and dignitaries and the hundreds of law enforcement officers alluded to the eternal smile of Cumberland County sheriff’s Deputy Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.
Bishop John Rivera, lead pastor at Rivers of Living Water Church of God on Bingham Drive, referred to it as “the peaceful smile on his face.”
The funeral tugged at the heart, complete with sobbing and sniffling throughout the church. Some would dab tears from their eyes.
Among others, Bolanos-Anavisca’s fiancee, Elena Schmidt; his father, Oscar Bolanos Sr.; and his cousins Cindy Anavisca-Orrego and Bryon Bolanos all gave tearful remarks that told the story of a sheriff’s deputy life.
The funeral, held in a nearly full church of roughly 1,100 to 1,200 people, was a celebration of the life of the 23-year-old sheriff’s deputy who was struck by a vehicle and killed while investigating a robbery on Gillespie Drive on Dec. 16. The driver of that vehicle has been charged with drunken driving, among other charges.
“This is hard,” said Schmidt, the deputy’s fiancee, before breaking down in grief.
“I would much rather be back to Thursday night, picking out where we were going to eat,” she said, her voice choking. “Or watching a marathon of ‘The Office’ every night with you. I’ve been so blessed being a part of your family since 2015. I know we’ll be together forever.
“You were more than a deputy to me,” she said. “You were my person, my best friend, the love of my life and soulmate. My heart is broken knowing that our time together has been cut so short. But I am blessed to see how much we have accomplished and know that neither of us could have done any of it alone.”
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Schmidt said she always knew his dream was to become a law enforcement officer, but she added that his dream scared her so much.
“So, when you began your career with the Sheriff’s Office,” she said, “I was at peace. I knew how well you were taken care of by your law enforcement family. I’m so proud of you. I hear more and more stories about how you impacted everybody’s life.
“I already miss your smile so much.”
A bit of humor seeped into the service at appropriate moments, briefly lightening the mood on the stern faces in the crowd. Those in attendance included the heads of other law enforcement agencies, as well as law enforcement officers from across the state.
The law agencies represented included Duke University Campus Police, N.C. Highway Patrol, N.C. Wildlife Agency officers, firefighters and other first responders.
Just below the stage, the coffin was left half open with a U.S. flag draped over the closed bottom half. Floral displays flanked the casket, and retired sheriffs took turns standing guard.
“Very surprised and emotional to know how many friends and families loved my son,” the senior Bolanos said. “It honors me to know he was able to serve the city and to help (protect the area),” his father said in Spanish before it was interpreted in English.
Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright — who was Bolanos-Anavisca’s boss — called the young man an outstanding deputy.
“You know, I have over 700 folks assigned to the Sheriff’s Office and certain people draw your attention. He was one who drew my attention,” Wright said. “It was him and two cousins who came to the Sheriff’s Office. I talked to them before they were hired.
“It was just something about Oscar — that smile. You could feel the passion that he had,” Wright continued. “That he wanted to be a law enforcement officer. You know, my people hear me say every day, ‘Everyone cannot be police.’ Some folks have to call the police. And Oscar was one of those who could be the police.”
Bolanos-Anavisca was killed while investigating a convenience store robbery on the southern end of Gillespie Street.
He was walking to the Circle K convenience store after working with a canine unit when he was hit by the vehicle while crossing Gillespie Street.
Nicholas Terlizzi, 24, of Linden, has been charged with death by motor vehicle, hit and run, driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, reckless driving to endanger, failing to stop for a steady red light and other North Carolina registration violations, according to Lt. Scott Smith of Troop B of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Bolanos-Anavisca was a 2018 graduate of South View High School. He started his law enforcement career as a school resource officer before he asked to go on patrol, Wright recalled. While on that school assignment, Wright added, he touched a lot of kids’ lives.
“He did an outstanding job on patrol. Law enforcement — everyone sitting out here — first responders. It’s a calling. It’s a calling,” he said. “It’s a calling because you put yourself, just as Oscar has done, in harm’s way for someone else. For someone you don’t know, you know nothing about. That’s what Oscar did. He did something that he enjoyed doing.”
Bolanos-Anavisca was laid to rest following the service at Rockfish Memorial Park on Gillespie Street.
Bishop Rivera said it takes a special person to be a peacemaker.
“I believe that peacemaking is a calling from God,” Rivera said. “You are told to do what others would never risk their lives to do. Bring peace amid chaos, birthed by conflict. This is why there is no coincidence and no doubt in my heart that Deputy Bolanos chose to become a peace officer.
“He gave his life just a few days ago doing what he loved the most. And that was serving his community with love, with respect and then that beautiful smile. Today, we remember and celebrate him.”
