Church in Dacula prays for math teacher Cristina Irimie

DACULA, Georgia. – As Barrow County continues to grapple with the loss of two students and two teachers during the devastating shooting at Apalachee High School, a church in Dacula has put together its own touching memorial message.

Members of St. Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church gathered to mourn the loss of Cristina Irimie, a beloved mathematics teacher and valued member of the Romanian immigrant community.

The congregation gathered for a special prayer service led by Father Nicolae Clempus. This was the first time the close-knit community had come together to honor and remember Irimie, who tragically lost her life in the mass shooting. Some students said she died heroically while trying to protect others from harm.

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Clempus described Irimie as someone who deeply loved her students and the children of the community. In addition to her role as an educator, she was very committed to preserving her heritage, teaching local children traditional Romanian dance and serving as an important link between generations within Romanian culture.

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In response to the tragedy, several GoFundMe campaigns have been launched to support the families of the victims, including one for Irimie, which has already raised nearly $100,000.