Parents and youngsters united with embraces and tears on the St. Rita Catholic School campus on July 8 to tie ribbons in colors of pink, yellow, and purple, honoring the loss of St. Rita students, Blair and Brooke Harber, and their Bradfield Elementary friend, Lila Bonner.
Blair and Brooke Harber’s grandparents remain unaccounted for.
A statement released from the St. Rita Catholic Community reads:
As our St. Rita Catholic Community continues to process the devastating events that unfolded in the Texas Hill Country over the July 4th holiday, we join countless others in mourning the heartbreaking loss of two of our students, Blair and Brooke Harber, whose young lives were tragically cut short by flash flooding along the Guadalupe River.
Blair, a rising 8th grader, and Brooke, a rising 6th grader, were staying with their grandparents, who remain unaccounted for. Their parents, RJ and Annie Harber, were in a separate cabin and are safe. Annie is a beloved member of our faculty, and the Harber family has been a cherished part of our parish and school community for many years. This tragedy has touched every corner of our hearts.
In this time of deep sorrow, we stay grounded in our faith and united in love. We will stand with the Harber family in the days to come, surrounding them with our prayers, compassion, and unwavering support. As a community of faith, we hold onto the hope and promise that Christ has defeated death, and that eternal life is waiting for those who love Him.
Blair and Brooke were young women of deep faith, and religion was one of their favorite subjects. On the night they died, they went to the loft of their cabin with their rosaries. When Blair and Brooke were found the next day, fifteen miles downriver, they were together. Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God.
Blair was an outstanding student enrolled in advanced classes and actively involved in school activities. She played volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, cheered for the St. Rita cheerleading team, and served as a Student Ambassador, proudly guiding prospective families through the school. She was also a member of the yearbook team and took part in the speech and drama program. This year, she was excited to audition for the lead role in the 8th-grade play. Blair had the kindest heart and loved to serve others.
Brooke was an excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went. She was an accomplished soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse player, known for her spirit and determination. She, too, loved speech and drama and had a particular gift for improv that brought smiles and laughter to those around her. Brooke never met a stranger and loved everyone she met.
We ask for your continued prayers for the Harber family in this time of unimaginable grief. Our prayers are also with all of those families impacted by this tragedy. May our faith, our love, and the strength of the St. Rita community be a source of comfort and healing in the days ahead.
A fund to help those affected by the floods and to provide scholarships or other types of memorials has been established in honor of Blair and Brooke Harber.
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