Some residents of the town of Groton in northwestern Middlesex County have set up a memorial fund in honor of Cassidy Baracka, while neighbors of the family started a ribbon campaign in her memory, MassLive reported.
People participating in the ribbon campaign are tying pink ribbons on their mailboxes and trees.
Baracka passed away on January 18, 2022. She was an avid dancer, singer, gymnast, girl scout and a very artistic child, according to an obituary.
“She colored and drew rainbows on a daily basis and loved to make pictures for people to thank them or to brighten their day,” the obituary said. “It was very hard not to smile when you met or ran into Cassidy because she smiled all the time and told hilarious jokes. She was a kind, helpful and inclusive spirit. She was very inquisitive and smart with just the right amount of sass.”
“She loved her mother very much. The pair did everything together, including attending over a hundred Bruins games since her birth, multiple trips to Disney World, a Disney Cruise and attending two showings of Disney on Ice annually.”
Baracka was learning to roller skate and loved riding her bicycle, scooter and hoverboard. She also loved spending time outdoors at the family’s summer cottage.
“Her place in our hearts will never be full again,” the obituary said.
A private funeral service for Baracka was held on February 6 at the Badger Funeral Home in Littleton, Massachusetts.
Following her death, the Country Kids Child Development Center, where Baracka was a student, established a memorial fund at Citizens Bank in Groton.
“This fund will be used to support community services earmarked for children in the greater Groton area. Donations to this cause in lieu of flowers will have a lasting impact to the local community,” the development center said in a Facebook post.
In the post, the center paid tribute to the “beloved” former student who spent many days there.
“It is with much regret, deep sorrow, and heavy hearts that we write to inform you of the passing of one of ‘our own.’ Cassidy was such a fun-loving, spirited young girl who always arrived at school with a big glowing smile, eager to start her days with friends and teachers.”
“She touched so many lives with her big loving heart, contagious laugh, and remarkable sense of humor. We are all beyond heartbroken by this devastating loss, of such a beautiful young child. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to Cassidy’s family, friends, young classmates, and to all that knew her during this extremely difficult time.”
In addition to the memorial fund, Country Kids also said they would be installing a “buddy bench” and planting a tree at the center in her honor.
“Cassidy was always a great friend to sit beside & turn to, and a tree planted will cherish her continued growth at a place where her roots have made such a profound, and permanent impact on all those that loved her so very much.”
