CENTER MORICHES, NY — The day after little Thomas Valva’s emotional funeral service, those who knew him are remembering his life — police say the boy, 8, froze to death after he was left in a frigid garage at his father’s home overnight. They are remembering his bright smile — the moments when he was simply a happy little boy who loved to sing and read books.

On Jan. 24, Suffolk County homicide detectives arrested Michael Valva and Angela Pollina, of Bittersweet Lane in Center Moriches, and charged them with second-degree murder, police said.

Although his father initially reported that Thomas died after a fall in the driveway, new details emerged last Friday at a press conference by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart.

Thomas officially died of hypothermia, according to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Hart said. “We believe that he was kept in the garage overnight preceding his death,” Hart said. When the boy was found, she said, his body temperature was 76 degrees and he had head and facial injuries that were not consistent with Valva’s account of what had happened.

The community has been cloaked in mourning since, organizing vigils and fundraisers to help Thomas’ mother Justyna Zubko-Valva and his two brothers.

On Friday, Alicia Buontempone Levine posted a photo of Thomas on the “Justice for Thomas Valva Case Discussion” Facebook page; in the photo, Thomas was smiling, surrounded by staff at the Long Island preschool he attended.

“I was one of Thomas’ preschool teachers. My coworkers and I attended the wake yesterday. I was so touched that not only did Justyna remember us, but she thanked us for all of the hard work we did with Thomas. My coworkers and I shared all of the good memories of Thomas. Unfortunately everyone knows all of the terrible things that happened to him but no one really knew all the good, so I thought I would share with you all,” she said.

Thomas was her student when he was 4 years old, Buontempone Levine said. “He was such a sweet and loving boy. His smile would light up the room. He loved playing with cars and trains. He loved singing and music. During rest time, my co-teacher would always sing ‘Let it Go’ to him. It was his favorite song at the time. He loved to cuddle and be tickled. He was so eager to learn. He even taught himself how to read,” she said.

And, she added: “He was the type of student that I would never forget. I still hear his sweet voice in my head and I hope I never forget it. Rest easy, Thomas. We all love and miss you greatly.”

Buontempone Levine told Patch that Thomas had a favorite book that staff used to read to him all the time. “I’m pretty sure it was about trains. We read it to him daily and then one day he read it. We thought he memorized the words but then I pointed out the words randomly and he was able to say them correctly. Then I gave him different books and he was able to sound out the words on his own and taught himself how to read,” she said. Of his loss, she added, “It’s so heartbreaking.

Also on Friday, Zubko-Valva posted a video of her son on YouTube, “In Honor Of My Little Angel Thomas.” In the video, Thomas is playing a child’s guitar and singing by “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction.

“Rest peacefully in heaven, our sweet little angel,” she wrote. “We love you so much and miss you.”

(Video by Jacqueline Sweet for Patch)

Remembering the little boy he was, mourners left a sea of teddy bears at the funeral home in Melville Thursday. “Teddies for Thomas,” wrote Veronica Mcquillan Korte on Facebook. She added that the teddy bears are being re-gifted to animal shelters, to a fundraiser in Riverhead Saturday, to homeless shelters, ambulance corps, police departments and pre-schools. “We are paying it forward in Thomas’ name,” she said.

Fundraising efforts continue: On Saturday, an event, “In Memory of Thomas Valva: Stand Against Child Abuse” is slated for the Riverwalk Bar & Grille, located at 40 Peconic Ave. in Riverhead. The event begins at 5 p.m. and includes a raffle auction; tickets coast $50 per person for the buffet, two drinks and 10 raffles; $30 per person includes the buffet and 10 raffles. Additional raffles are available for purchase. A cash bar will also be available with a portion going to the family.