Summer Rupert Wozniczka was excelling at the job she loved. She had just bought a new home, and was preparing for a trip to New York City for her daughter Julianna's softball tournament.
But on October 30, 2014, it all came to an end.
"My daughter left the house for a run, lit up like a Christmas tree," said Sharon Rupert, "never to return."
Running against traffic, and wearing flashing lights, there was nothing she could have done, investigators say. Vincent Carello hit Rupert Wozniczka, and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. Although a grand jury determined there wasn't enough evidence, prosecutors accused him of being under the influence.
"She had so much more to give, and to bring that, it's a huge loss," said Andrea Mackey, one of the victim's best friends. "We all feel it every day. The kids feel it, the adults in the community, the softball program -- everybody's life that she touched continues to feel the loss."
Now Carello will spend seven to 14 years in prison.
"There will never be words or anything I can do to bring Summer back to life," Carello said. "I made a mistake to drive my car the morning of October 30. And that mistake, I have to live with for the rest of my life. And not only did I ruin my family, I ruined the lives of a family of someone I never met. That alone kills me. Absolutely kills me."
Despite Carello's apology, Rupert Wozniczka loved ones say healing will take time.
"You have such a tragic loss to take that all in," said Mackey. "So it's going to take us a while to take this all in. It will help us, I'm sure, but it will take some time."
With Christmas coming, her family is carrying on all the traditions she loved, putting angel wings on their trees to remember her and her bright spirit.