500 rally, raise $40K after NJ teen Kara Lemanowicz dies in sleepover

Funeral arrangements have been made for Kara Lemanowicz, the incoming high school freshman from Voorhees who died during a soccer team sleepover this weekend.

As her family made preparations, more than 500 people have contributed to a GoFundMe.com collection to help pay for expenses.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 27 Kresson Gibbsboro Road, Gibbsboro, according to her obituary. A Mass of Christian burial is at 11 a.m. Cremation and interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the fund. online or by mail care of the funeral home.

Lemanowicz was an avid soccer, lacrosse, and basketball player who loved to babysit and care for children, according to her obituary. She had a special fondness for special needs children, it said.

She was an incoming freshman at Eastern High School. Girls soccer coach Jamie McGroarty told New Jersey 101.5 "she just loved life" — always energetic and smilin. McGroarty, who'd coached Lemanowicz and her sister since she was four years old through the Voorhees Soccer Association.

Lemanowicz's death is not considered suspicious. Authorities believe a medical condition may have caused the death, but further details have not yet disclosed.

"No one should have to bury their child, not to mention having to worry about how to pay for it," he wrote on the fundraiser page. "So please contribute what you can, and help spread the word."