Lauren Liu Obituary: Remembering Lauren Grace Liu of Short Hills
Lauren Grace Liu of Short Hills, New Jersey, died on October 30, 2017, at the age of 14. Remembered for her kindness, intelligence and warmth, she was a daughter, sister, student and friend whose interests included tennis, skiing and dance.
Her obituary was published in November 2017. Although tributes continue to appear online, the original notice concerns her death in 2017. Remembering that date helps preserve an accurate account of her life and the loss experienced by her family and community.
School, Sports and Dance
Lauren was a freshman at Kent Place School in Summit. According to her family’s obituary, she earned straight As during her first trimester and secured a starting position on the varsity tennis team. She helped the team achieve the school’s first state championship.
Away from school, Lauren enjoyed skiing with her family at Snowbird in Utah. She had developed the confidence and ability to tackle difficult terrain.
Dance was another important part of her life, and her parents recalled the emotion she brought to her performances.
The family’s memories also included the sound of her laughter and her habit of putting other people first. These personal details offer a picture of Lauren beyond her academic and athletic achievements.
Her parents, James and Helen Hurh Liu, and her brother, David, were among the loved ones named in her obituary.
Family and Community Remembrance
News of Lauren’s death brought grief to the communities connected to her home and school. Her family’s tribute described a gentle, thoughtful teenager who brought happiness to others.
A November 2017 report announced a vigil at Renaissance Church in the Summit Opera House for Friday, November 3. The gathering was planned around prayer, scripture readings and music.
Organizers also offered students a place to stay afterward if they needed more time to talk or pray.
That invitation gave young people room to gather with others while facing the loss of a classmate and friend. It acknowledged that an evening of remembrance could also leave people needing conversation, company and time.
A celebration of Lauren’s life was announced for November 4, 2017, at Community Congregational Church in Short Hills. Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial handled the funeral arrangements.
These dates refer to the original memorial observances. Guests were invited to arrive before the service to view memorabilia from Lauren’s life, giving them time to remember her through familiar, personal objects.
Hope for Lauren and Her Memory
Lauren’s family spoke publicly about her struggle with depression and shared that she died by suicide. They established the Hope for Lauren Foundation to support children experiencing depression and other mental health difficulties.
The foundation’s stated aims included supporting research, increasing awareness of suicide prevention and helping families bereaved by suicide. The family requested memorial contributions in place of flowers.
Kent Place School lists the Hope for Lauren Foundation among the organizations its students support through community service. That connection links Lauren’s name with efforts to help others within the wider school community.
Lauren is remembered as a young person with many different interests and a kindness that mattered to those around her.
The grief of losing her belongs first to the people who deeply loved her. Remembering her means keeping those relationships and personal memories at the center of the story, alongside the family’s wish to help others.