Less than a month ago, the story of a brave young woman who walked across the stage at her high school graduation just hours after her mother died captured the hearts of the Greensburg community. Now, the community is once again reaching out to her family in loss. But this time, they grieve the death of the young woman herself.

Rachel Parker, 18, of New Alexandria, was killed in a car accident June 24.

Ms. Parker, who had just returned from senior week at the beach with friends, was traveling Route 119 on her way to work in Greensburg when her car swerved across a double line and into another car. Police believe she simply lost control of the car, and was thrown from it because she wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Ms. Parker was planning to attend the University of Pittsburgh. She was well-loved and respected at her high school, where she was an honors student who excelled in math, a cheerleader, a student council member and was on homecoming court.

"She had so many friends and was involved in so many different things that I don't think she realized the impact she had on the community. And I don't think the community fully realized it until we lost her," said Ken Bissell, Ms. Parker's senior project adviser at Greensburg Salem High School.

More than 420 people attended the funeral held Monday in Westminster Presbyterian Church, said her brother, Ryan Parker, 21.

"I think we still have students who are dealing with her mother's loss and now dealing with Rachel's loss on top of it," said Greensburg Salem High School Principal David Zilli.

The high school opened its doors to students last Thursday, the day after Rachel's death, to provide them with counselors and a place to gather. A few students came, assistant principal Kevin Bringe said.

But the night of her death, groups of up to 30 gathered at friends' houses to support each other, said cheerleading coach Julie Romagnoli.

Mr. Zilli said Rachel had a lot of close friends in school who also knew her mother, Linda Marie Barton Renchko. Mrs. Renchko died June 4 of a heart attack after a four-year battle with breast cancer. She was 48.

Ms. Parker, a talented potter, was planning to make two urns for her mother's ashes -- one for herself and one for her brother. Her high school pottery teacher, Mrs. Hajdukiewiz, was going to start making the urns with Ms. Parker the day she died.

"I was sitting there with her phone number on my dining room table," Mrs. Hajdukiewiz said. "I guess I will have to make an urn for her brother at least."

Mrs. Hajdukiewiz, who helps with parking lot duty after school, said she sees students leave every day without wearing seat belts, and is angry at Ms. Parker for not wearing hers the night she died. The anger, she said, is her way of coping with her grief.

"You always kind of give them that hand motion, like 'put that seat belt on,'" she said. "She's just smarter than that. I think the seat belt would've saved her."

"I would imagine that she didn't wear her seat belt all the time," Mr. Parker said with a sigh. "She was a free spirit. She just didn't think it would happen to her."

The driver of the other car, Cody Crawford, 20, of Blairsville, was released from UPMC Presbyterian last Thursday.

Katelyn Metzler, Ms. Parker's best friend also is recent graduate, and said it was difficult enough to lose her friend's mother, let alone her friend.

The day of her heart attack, Mrs. Renchko was helping Ms. Parker and her friends plan senior week and taking candid pictures of them by their family pool, despite her illness.

"We were always at Rachel's house," said Ms. Metzler, 18.

"[Rachel] never shows emotion. But whenever her mom died, that's what made it really sad for me, is that she was actually showing emotion," Ms. Metzler said. "She never really knew her real dad. ... Her mom was kind of like all she had."

The Parkers' father, Kevin Parker, 48, of North Huntington, died March 30, 2008. According to Ryan Parker, he and his sister didn't grow up with their father.

Now a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Parker said the Renchko family was helping him through his loss.

He said he has two stepsisters, Brittany Renchko, 18, and Ashley Renchko, 21. "I'm getting to know them, now," he said.