LAPLACE — Froggy. Munchkin. Jewel. Baby doll.

Different people had different nicknames for 11-year-old Julia Caroline Luna, but her mother Jodi said she hopes people remember “she was such a beautiful, sweet girl who loved to take care of and help babies, puppies and anyone in need.”

Julia passed away June 24, and her life was celebrated Monday at St. Joan of Arc Church.

SJA was a huge part of Julia’s life, as she and her family attended church there and in May she finished her fifth grade year at SJA Catholic School.

“She was so excited about getting to wear the new uniform,” Jodi said of her daughter’s anticipation to enter sixth grade in August.

Jodi said she and her husband Pete were told by doctors they would never be able to have children, which made her getting pregnant with Julia that much more special.

When Julia was 4 years old, doctors discovered she had a heart defect, and the condition caused blood to overflow into her lungs. Julia was expected to eventually need a lung transplant, Jodi said, but for 11 years she was able to lead a full life by taking different medications.

“She was a trooper through it all,” Jodi said. “On the outside you couldn’t tell anything was wrong.”

Julia unexpectedly required surgery last week after an abscess was discovered on her brain, and she died the same day.

Since Julia’s passing many people in the community have conveyed stories and sweet memories about her daughter, Jodi said, and nearly $20,000 from a GoFundMe webpage alone was collected for the family to cover funeral expenses.

“The support of the community and even people who didn’t know Julia have made us feel so special and loved,” Jodi said. “In the 11 years that we had her, she made such an impression on so many. She touched so many people … more than I ever dreamed. I never in a million years would have realized how many lives my daughter has touched.”

Riverlands Stingrays Coach Lindsey Vicknair said the idea to donate proceeds from a Stingrays’ swim meet 50/50 to the Luna family was suggested by a parent, and “everyone immediately agreed and jumped into action of advertising it on Facebook.

“We had our largest 50/50 pot of the season, even though we were hosting the team from Vacherie, the furthest team from our area,” Vicknair said. “When a LaVacherie fan had the winning 50/50 ticket, he didn’t even hesitate to say he wanted to donate the entire thing to Julia’s family.”

While Julia didn’t swim on the Stingrays’ team or even participate in the swim league, Vicknair said many children on the team either went to school with her, danced with her or knew her from other friends.

“We have such a tight knit community, and her passing touched so many of us, even those who had never laid eyes on her,” she said.

Julia’s life was filled with things she loved to do, including dancing with Performing Arts Dance Center, volunteering with the St. John Parish Animal Shelter and participating in Girl Scouts, where she was the top cookie seller in her troop this year.

Julia’s desire to help others was displayed this spring at Relay for Life, where she walked the track in honor of one of her mom’s coworkers who is a cancer survivor.

“Julia loved being on the run,” Jodi said. “She loved shopping, pedicures, anything pink and sparkly. She also loved babies … especially babies that had health issues. She wanted to be the one to be able to help them.”