Recent Memorial High School graduate and Camp Mystic counselor Katherine Ferruzzo died in the July 4 floods that swept through Kerr County. Courtesy of the Ferruzzo family

Katherine Ferruzzo was devoted to caring for children, from the campers in her cabin at Camp Mystic to the students with special needs who she helped as a teacher aide at Spring Branch elementary schools.

She planned to become a special education teacher after arriving at the University of Texas at Austin this fall to start her freshman year.

Ferruzzo, 19, died in the Fourth of July floods that swept through Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer retreat along the Guadalupe River in western Kerr County. She had been the only counselor who remained unaccounted for until Saturday, when her family members said in a statement that her remains had been found Friday.

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They thanked the search and rescue professionals, including the Texas Rangers, and volunteers. They said they are establishing the Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation “to honor Katherine and her compassion for those with special needs and learning differences,” and plan to provide more information about donations soon.

“We would like to thank the Houston and Camp Mystic communities for their unwavering support and for allowing us to mourn this tragedy in private,” the family said. “We are heartbroken for the other families and pray for all who have been affected.”

Ferruzzo recently graduated from Memorial High School, where she helped set up the school’s debut Unity Game, a mini-football game in which students with special needs could try out football, cheerleading or band. She also volunteered at several Houston-area organizations for children and those with special needs, including the Miracle League, Gigi’s Playhouse, Camp Acorn and Camp Briarwood.

“Katherine has a fierce and loving spirit, and we have no doubt she did all she could to save the lives of the girls in her cabin,” her family said in an earlier statement.

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She was one of at least 28 Camp Mystic counselors and campers along with owner Dick Eastland who died in the July 4 flood.