HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Friends of the late Royal Oak resident and first-year Grand Valley State University student Taylor DeRosa have organized an online fundraiser for the girl’s devastated mother.
Ms. DeRosa’s body was found on GVSU’s campus Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, and GVSU police have indicated her death is suspicious.
In a GoFundMe post set up Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, the group of friends wrote, “We lost our beautiful, strong, courageous, smart and sweet Taylor far too soon. Taylor lived a passionate, involved life as an advocate for gun control, Black Lives Matter, women’s rights and a host of other organizations and movements that supported human equality, fairness and truth. Taylor’s smile was illuminating, and her warmth, friendliness and humor brought joy to everyone who knew her. She was a loving daughter, granddaughter, cousin, niece and friend. Taylor was a freshman at Grand Valley State University majoring in international business and minoring in French. She is loved and will be missed by many.”
The note lists some of the teen’s life experiences:
- Attending Camp Nissokone since she was 11 and serving as a counselor for several years
- Royal Oak High School Lacrosse Team
- Interact Cub: In a GoFundMe post from Jan. 6, 2020, Taylor DeRosa asked for donations to fund a trip to North Carolina, writing she “decided to do something meaningful with my senior year February Break, and I have signed up as a disaster relief volunteer with the National Relief Network. I will be traveling with InterAct of Royal Oak High School to New Bern, NC where hurricanes and flooding have caused extensive damage to homes.” Some donations were delivered offline, according to related social media posts.
- Spirit Club
- Diploma Program
The note explained Carolyn (Cara) DeRosa is, a single mother “who raised Taylor by herself since she was born, worked seven days a week at two different jobs to provide her the perfect life she deserved. They were the best of friends and FaceTimed or spoke every day. Carolyn was very involved in Taylor’s life, and many of Taylor’s friends considered her as a second mother.”
The GoFundMe goal is $20,000, aimed at covering funeral costs the Cara DeRosa’s time off work, with the caveat that “excess money will be donated to a fund near to Taylor’s heart.” Within an hour, nearly $7,000 had been donated.
The group of fundraisers, listed as Jody Costello, Courtney Litwin, Gina Mollencopf, Julie Brewster, Michelle Lifter, Staci Oseid, Jenny Mollencopf, Emma Brewster and Yvonne Spielbusch, asked people to keep the DeRosa family in their thoughts and prayers.
A candlelight vigil is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at the Allendale campus clock tower. Anyone attending is asked to bring their own candle, wear a mask and practice social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19.
GVSU’s counseling center staff are available by phone, (616) 331-3266. GVSU officials say the Dean of Students Office also has additional services available and can be reached at (616) 331-3585 or dos@gvsu.edu.
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