RACINE, Wis. — The family of a Racine teenage girl who died after being rescued from Lake Michigan last week is remembering her as a vibrant, happy girl who was excited for her future.
Shaylani Williams, who the family says had just turned 15 in May, was out on the lake with friends Thursday, July 31, when she drifted away, according to the Racine Fire Department.
Crews were able to pull her out of the water and help her regain a pulse before rushing her to a hospital, where the Racine County Sheriff’s Department said she later died.
"It's devastating. She was far too young. It shouldn't happen this way. It's just a pain that you cannot describe," Liz Villalobos, Williams' grandmother, said.
Villalobos said, growing up, Williams loved to run and completed her first 5k in 8th grade.
During Williams' freshman year at Horlick High School in Racine, she joined the wrestling team.
"She loved it and she was good. She was mean, not mean, but you know, she was a fighter. So, she loved wrestling and planned on doing wrestling throughout high school," Villalobos explained.
Williams has a younger sister, who Villalobos said, she adored. She also had an older brother she admired and wanted to follow into the military. He recently decided to join the Marines.
"She decided she wanted to become a military nurse. She very much wanted to help people," Villalobos added.
Thursday night after Williams passed away, Villalobos said Children's Wisconsin gave their entire family a necklace with Williams' finger print inside.
"We all left with our Shaylani around our necks, yes, and close to our heart. She's always with me. This is just so special to have that, that closeness right by my heart of having her there," she said.
Williams will be laid to rest Friday afternoon at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Racine. Family said there's a public viewing from 2p.m. to 4p.m.
"At such a young age, we weren't prepared with expenses for a funeral for a 15-year-old," Villalobos said.
Her family is now accepting donations for funeral costs on GoFundMe.
"It's been so hard, the outpouring of strangers, of friends, of family, of her schools, of her wrestling team, just the outpouring of everyone has been very helpful in knowing how much she was loved," her grandmother added.
The Racine Unified School District put out the following statement regarding Williams' passing:
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our student. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the student’s family and friends, as well as the entire Horlick High School community during this incredibly difficult time."
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