TEARFUL FAREWELL; `ALL OF US ARE ASKING WHY,' UNCLE SAYS.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

Three young brothers who were killed in their home last week were remembered Wednesday by more than 400 mourners as happy children who loved God, adored their father, and favored Pokemon and ``Star Wars'' movies.

During the funeral Mass at Padre Serra Parish, the Rev. Jarlath Dolan told relatives and friends he was sure that Xavier ``Joey'' Caro Jr., 11, Michael Caro, 8, and Christopher Caro, 5, had been met by God in heaven.

``If there is any reason to be sad this morning, it's that we don't have a vision of what those first three or five minutes (in heaven) were like,'' Dolan said. ``Yet we can't get away from the sadness of the occasion.''

Although never mentioned by name during the service, prayers for healing were said for the boys' mother, Socorro ``Cora'' Caro, who was in the jail ward at Ventura County Medical Center, recovering from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Cora Caro was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder, accused of shooting three of her four sons in the head on Nov. 22, as they slept in their suburban Moorpark home. A 13-month-old boy, Gabriel, was unharmed.

The boys' father, Dr. Xavier Caro Sr., carried young Gabriel into the Camarillo church at the start of the service. The toddler clutched a bottle in one hand and a stuffed kitten in the other.

The three small, white caskets were placed near the altar, Joey flanked by his two brothers. Blankets of blue and white flowers decked the caskets, then were replaced by the boys' white baptismal gowns, placed there by their godparents.

The mourners included friends and relatives of the brothers, and co-workers of Xavier Caro, a rheumatologist who has a private practice in Northridge. Also attending the 90-minute service were dozens of students at Santa Rosa Elementary, where the Caro brothers had attended school. The youngsters were accompanied by their mothers, who hugged them and each other as they walked out of the emotional service.

``I'll miss how he was always happy and laughing and stuff,'' said Samuel Lyche, a classmate in Joey's fifth-grade class.

Xavier Caro's brother, Raul Caro, spoke briefly with reporters before the service, thanking supporters who had prayed for the family.

``This is a powerful and tragic situation and it was become ever more powerful when a member of the family, the mother, is arrested and accused of doing this crime,'' Raul Caro said.

``All of us are asking why. None of us really has the answer right now. We have to put our faith in God and the justice system to sort it out for us and find out why,'' he said.

Raul Caro also spoke of his nephews, describing Joey as quiet and introspective, but also the leader of the pack, who wanted to be like his heroes, moviemakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

Mikey, the handsome and extroverted middle child, was trying to decide whether he wanted to be a rock star or a scientist, his uncle said.

``And Christopher was too young to think about the future. He was more interested in the immediate,'' Raul Caro recalled of the youngster who had the ability to make people laugh.

Raul Caro said Xavier and Cora's relatives are trying to cope with the boys' deaths, as well as the accusation against their mother.

David Leon, Cora's cousin, said she was under sedation as her condition improved. He did not know if she asked to attend the funeral.

``Our family has surrounded Cora with great love and compassion,'' said Leon, who grew up with Cora in the San Fernando Valley. ``And we're going to walk with her, whatever happens. There are a lot of unknown details. Anything we can do to support her, we'll do.''

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) A mother consoles her son Wednesday during the funeral for the three Caro brothers slain in their Moorpark home last week.

(2 -- color -- ran in Conejo and Simi edition only) Danielle Leon, left, and her daughter Jessica comfort each other as they gaze at the casket of one of the little boys.

(3) The Caro boys' caskets are escorted out of the Padre Serra Parish church in Camarillo, where funeral services were held Wednesday.

(4 -- ran in Conejo and Simi edition only) The caskets of Joey, Michael and Christopher Caro await burial at Padre Serra Parish church.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News