Her face gaunt with grief, she walked unsteadily out of St. Catherine's Church with her husband, Norbert, by her side. All around them, small clusters of family and friends spoke reverently about yesterday's memorial service for Shannon Smith.
About 600 people attended all or part of a ceremony that paid tribute to the 20-year-old who gave his life saving the youngest child of Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen in the treacherous waters of Slippery Slide.
"He loved children so much," Rosemary Smith said. "He was very positive about everything. That's the way I want to remember him most of all."
Family and friends were not surprised by Shannon Smith's heroics that Easter weekend. Nor were they reticent to reflect on some humorous moments he brought into their lives.
"He affected so many people in so many ways," Rosemary Smith said. "I was so pleased to see so many people come. Tell everyone thank you for their thoughts and prayers."
The Smiths disappeared into a crowd of people gathered in one of the church's nearby buildings. It was one of the few times they had left their home since learning of their son's drowning.
Earlier in the day, they were swept into a packed St. Catherine's Church with their daughters and sons. For more than an hour, people walked to the front of the sanctuary to pay their respects.
Eventually, Father Bruce Lery was forced to begin the service, even though the line of people waiting to see the Smiths stretched outside the large, airy building.
After family members and friends read selected scriptures, Lery gave a brief sermon on the affirmation of life. He talked about how people who have died can be remembered for the way they lived their lives.
Smith made a difference in the lives of those who attended Winners' Camp. When the kids grew tired or were in need of inspiration, Shannon was there to say, "You gotta love it. You gotta love it."
Lifelong friend Noah Evslin recalled being shocked and horrified by Shannon Smith's death, but not surprised by the circumstances.
"He is not a hero like Superman," Evslin said. "He didn't kill anyone. He gave his life for someone else's and that's so like Shannon. He liked helping people.
"When we were growing up, I'd always call him over on Sunday morning to help me do chores. He would do all the work and then look around and ask, 'Where did Noah go?' I'd be asleep in my room because I knew Shannon would do all the work." It was something not lost on Shannon's brothers, Greg and Ryan, who said after Evslin revealed this fact, "Now we know why Shannon didn't do chores at our house."
The Kapaa High graduate took his positive outlook on life wherever he'd go.
His brothers revealed this fact by reading particular passages from his journal. One was, "Depression is pointless. You can always look at the bright side of things."
Another read, "The world would be a better place if we could learn to trust one another. I've never had a full bad day. It's too big for me."
Smith also was remembered by the university and state he loved. Representatives from the governor's office, the UH Board of Regents and the state House of Representatives paid tribute to Smith, honoring him for his courage and his love of life.