Celebration of life held for Harper Moyski, 10, on Sunday in Minneapolis

(KSTP) – A celebration of life was held Sunday for 10-year-old Harper Lillian Moyski, one of two children killed in the Aug. 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis.

Harper’s family hosted a celebration of life service at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis.

In an obituary shared on Saturday, Harper was described by her loved ones as a bold and inquisitive person who “cared deeply about animals, people, and the planet.”

Harper had dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian, and she loved to travel and explore the world with her family, setting a goal of visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks before she graduated from college.

At the Sunday service, parents Mike and Jackie Moyski spoke to a sea of family, friends, and strangers. They began by thanking the community for helping to light a path forward and for packing the Lake Harriet Bandshell to celebrate Harper’s life.

“There’s just so much love and support lighting our path that we haven’t felt lost. Shattered and heartbroken but not lost,” Jackie Moyski said.

Harper was a true original, “sharp, curious, funny and fierce,” she continued.

Her daughter was herself, and there was no watering that down, Jackie Moyski said, adding that Harper’s imagination was big enough to build a whole world in one afternoon.

“One of our favorite things she used to do was set up a little store in her room… it was adorable. She was fully committed to running a profitable business, though, and did not give us any discounts,” Jackie Moyski shared.

“And, she’d change the price based on how nice you were to her,” she continued with a laugh.

“She just packed so much joy and imagination into her short 10 years, and thank God, thank God she made it all count.”

The service was followed by music, dancing, and an array of food trucks providing lunch free of charge. That was what Harper would’ve wanted, said Father Tom Hurley of Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, leading the service.

21 other people, including 18 children, were injured in the shooting that took Harper’s and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel’s lives.

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