Roma-Alketa Guerra

"Roma was born in to a loving family. From the very first day, she was ours in every sense: small but fiery, delicate but determined. She had a presence that filled the room long before she was tall enough to reach the light switches.

She was a willful child in the most beautiful way. If she decided something mattered, she would not let it go. At four years old she was already talking about performing giants on the bars — not just dreaming, but planning. Gymnastics was not just a hobby; it was part of her identity. She pushed herself, fell, got back up, and tried again. That quiet resilience was always there.

She was intelligent and sharp-witted, with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. She could be playful, sarcastic, funny and fiercely loyal. Her kindness showed up in action. She did things for her brothers without being asked. She felt deeply. She cared deeply.

As a teenager, Roma faced more than most. Sepsis and glandular fever left her unwell for 18 long months. Her body was exhausted, but her spirit still searched for purpose. Even during illness, she remained thoughtful and aware of others.

As she grew, she became a gymnastics coach, guiding younger children with the same passion she once had as a tiny girl gripping the bars. She assisted me with swim teaching, stood by her friends, and poured herself into cheerleading. She chose to study law because she believed in fairness. In her heart, things had to be right. She stood up for what she felt was unjust. That sense of justice was woven into her character.

Roma was kind. She was strong. And she was fragile too — because the deepest hearts often are.

She was loved from her first breath. She is loved beyond her last.

Her life was more than her final chapter.

She is a daughter, a sister, a coach, a friend — a light that mattered.

And she will always be ours."