MT AIRY, Ga. — The community is invited to gather Sunday evening at Raider Stadium in Mt. Airy to remember the life of Yaretzi Romero.
The 15-year-old Habersham Central High School sophomore and soccer player died on Aug. 13. Organizers of Sunday’s event want to use the occasion to surround her family, friends, and teammates with support in the wake of her death.
Celebration of Life
The Easton Foundation is organizing the Aug. 23 Celebration of Life, which will begin at 6 p.m. The gathering will give those who knew and loved Yaretzi an opportunity to share memories and celebrate the impact she made during her young life.
A member of the Class of 2029, Yaretzi died by suicide. In tribute, those closest to her are focusing not on the circumstances of her death, but on the life she lived and the joy she brought to others. Sunday’s Celebration of Life will include prayer, worship music, and testimonies, along with remarks from community organizations and those who knew her best.
“Our goal is to honor Yaretzi, surround her family with support, and show just how many people in this community care,” said Riley Chapman of The Easton Foundation.
Everyone is encouraged to wear pink in Yaretzi’s honor. Sunday’s gathering at Raider Stadium will conclude with a biodegradable balloon release in Yaretzi’s memory.
She was ‘funny’ and ‘fearless’
Yaretzi’s family describes her as a bright, outgoing young woman who was “funny, fearless, and never shy.” She loved dancing, could light up a room, and had a natural ability to make people smile.
Soccer was one of Yaretzi’s greatest passions. She played on the Habersham Central varsity soccer team and also competed with LSA in Gainesville. But those who knew her say her greatest gift was how she treated others.
“Perhaps what stood out most about Yaretzi was her heart,” her family wrote in her obituary. “She genuinely cared about others and had a way of making people feel welcomed and loved. She had so many friends, each with their own special memories of her laughter, her sense of humor, her dancing, and the joy she brought into their lives.”
Yaretzi is survived by her parents, grandparents, and three siblings. A Funeral Mass will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Clarkesville.
Obituary: Yaretzi Adelaida Romero Cantu Torres
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or struggling with emotional distress, help is available. In the United States, you can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. If there is an immediate danger, call 911.
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