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Gonzales Community Remembers Jamie

She is being remembered as a bright, athletic young woman, whose loving spirit touched the lives of many in the community of Gonzales. Sunday evening, that tight-knit community remembers 14-year-old Jamie Daigle, the Gonzales honors student killed in a shark attack in San Destin, Florida on Saturday.

Daigle was on the minds of what many consider is her second family, her fellow church members at the St. Theresa of Avila Church where reaction ranged from shocked to grief.

Friends say the Daigle family considered their church a second family, and it is with the help of this close community and their faith that those who knew the bright honors student are making it through such a trying time.

A somber quiet mood hung over mass at St. Theresa of Avila Church in Gonzales Sunday morning. Shocked looks and despair showed on the faces of parishioners as close friends of 14- year-old Jamie Daigle remember a young vivacious woman whose life was suddenly cut too short.

"It's just hard to put into words what you're feeling at this time," says Alice Labat.

"Just shocking," says Jarrett Marchand, "because I grew up with her brother and I know her parents and I've always been around and it's just shocking to see that happened."

What happened is something that this tight community of Gonzales is still trying to make sense of. On Saturday, 14-year-old Jamie Daigle was killed after a shark attacked her and her friend in the waters along San Destin Beach in Florida. The young girl was on vacation with her friend's family when tragedy struck.

Jarrett Marchand grew up in Gonzales with Jamie and her older brother. He remembers a young woman whose spirit was infectious and whose loving nature has still left its mark.

"She was a really sweet girl, really good looking," says Marchand, "everybody loved her, no one had problems with her, just a really nice little girl."

Only two weeks ago, Daigle graduated from the eighth grade at St. Theresa of Avila School. A former classmate says Jamie put a lot of time and passion into the church community.

"It's impossible to imagine this happened," says Jordan Robert. "She was only 14-years-old. And when you hear it on the news and to know that it was somebody you knew and that you saw everyday at school, it's hard to imagine. It hasn't really hit me yet."

But it's clear that even as Jamie's friends grieve, their thoughts right now are turning to what they can do to help support Jamie's parents and brother.

"All I can say for the parents is to pray," says Alice Labat, "to know that God is with them, that he needed another flower in his bouquet and that he picked her."

Daigle was set to attend St. Joseph Academy this fall. The former cheerleader was also an aide at the church camp. Monday, counselors will be at the church to help Jamie's classmates and fellow church members through their grieving process.