Attendees of the Juniper Blessings of Life Celebration made origami butterflies and were encouraged to leave them where they would make Blessings smile.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Family, friends and teachers honored murdered University of Washington student Juniper Blessing at a celebration of life service in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.
People who were influenced by Blessing gathered at the New Mexico School of the Arts to commemorate Blessing’s life by sharing stories and memories.
blessing is stabbed to death On May 10, in a student apartment outside the University of Washington.
Blessing graduated from the New Mexico Institute of the Arts in 2024 and then went to study at the University of Washington.
The school described Blessing as an “extraordinary musician,” and videos shared by Blessing’s family showed them performing at choral concerts at both schools. Blessing was selected to the New Mexico Music Education Association All-State Conference three years in a row.
During the celebration of life, loved ones remembered Blessing’s personality that “lit up a room” and made his smile “contagious.”
“Junior was always a person who brought people from different backgrounds, different cultures and different communities together with warmth, love and kindness, and everyone felt valued because of the way Juniper treated them,” Blessing’s family said in a statement.
After her death, her family said she was happier and more comfortable with her identity as a transgender woman than ever.
Blessing enjoyed making origami butterflies and placing them in unusual places where people might find them later, her family said. After celebrating the end of life, attendees made origami butterflies to commemorate the blessing. Attendees are encouraged to place them anywhere that will make a blessing smile.
While Blessing’s family tries to heal, the suspect in Blessing’s murder remains jailed on $10 million bail. Christopher Leahy charged with first-degree murder Awaiting his arraignment hearing June 4th.
