Family of teen who drowned in Racine sets up memorial at Carre-Hogle Park in her honor

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- It's a sunny afternoon on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and Liz Villalobos is standing in the middle of Carre-Hogle Park in Racine.

Tied to a pole next to her is a shiny pink balloon with "We love you" messages written in Sharpie, floating above candles, stuffed animals, flowers, and pictures.

It's a memorial to honor the life of Shaylani Williams, a 15-year-old girl who drowned last week, and who was Villalobos' granddaughter.

"She was such a happy and active young lady," Villalobos told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. "Full of life, just life of the party."

Villalobos, or who Shay called "Glamma," said her granddaughter loved spending time with her friends and family.

"Always fun, always happy, always joking," Villalobos said. "My phone is full of funny selfies, always funny selfies, yeah."

Williams was entering her sophomore year at Horlick High and dreamt of becoming a military nurse after she learned her older brother wanted to enlist in the Marines.

She also joined a running program and proudly completed a 5k on top of joining her school's wrestling team.

"We just wanted to feel her presence," Villalobos said. "To feel her here and just memorialize her at this location and this park where she liked to come swimming."

Now, besides the family's memorial, another one made of sticks and rocks sits on the lake's shore -- not by loved ones, but by strangers who were impacted by the loss.

"At her young life, we weren't prepared for a funeral for her," Villalobos said. "If I could talk to Shay right now, I'd thank her for the 15 beautiful years that she gave us and the joy she brought to our lives. We're going to miss you tremendously."

A visitation and mass will be held Friday, Aug. 8. For more info, click here. 

A GoFundMe has also been created to help cover funeral expenses. If you want to donate, click here.