Olivia Bumbac has always been, and will forever remain, an indescribably important person in the Parkway Central community. The pain of losing such an individual, who connected with everyone around her and shared her unending kindness with them, will never completely fade away. But in that pain we, as a community, must allow ourselves to find some peace in the light she left behind. Bumbac was someone who touched the hearts of people she interacted with, and she did so with ease, so continue to make every friend possible and think of her.

In their remembrance, all those who knew her closely—and even those that didn’t—unanimously agree that she was the epitome of light and laughter. She had the unique ability to bring out true feelings of joy in all those around her, something senior Emma McCourt undoubtedly agrees with.

McCourt met Bumbac through Chemistry during their sophomore year, and once they were both admitted to SouthTech’s health sciences strand, the rest was history.

“Olivia was truly the nicest person you could ever meet,” McCourt said. “She always cared about others and made you feel like the most important person in the room. Olivia was one of a kind.”

Senior Dominic Rudolph has known Bumbac since elementary school when they sat next to each other. He now uses their lifelong friendship as a way to look towards his future, as a code to live by.

“Olivia is the blueprint for how I try to live my life. She brought me out of my shell in elementary school and taught me what true compassion and kindness look like. Because of her, I try to approach each day with positivity and enthusiasm,” Rudolph said.

As for senior Aahana Shrestha, she and Bumbac became incredibly close after discovering just how close their houses were to each other. From there on out, it was the two of them everyday once school was over. Out of all those years, though, what Shrestha remembers most is the way Bumbac made her laugh.

“In fourth grade, I think we had so many sleepovers and it would be the dead of the night, and we’d still be laughing uncontrollably just over stupid stuff,” Shrestha said. “She would also sneak into my house, when I would be home in the basement, and she’d come over just to scare me. I would scream really loud, she’d just be there, cackling, and then she’d go right back home.”

For McCourt, the sense of mutual understanding they held with each other is what made their bond so remarkable in her life.

“We related to each other’s experiences and supported one another without judgment. She made me feel seen, heard, and never alone,” McCourt said. “I am a better person because I met Olivia and she has forever changed my life.

Shrestha feels a similar sense of appreciation for getting to know her, but more importantly to love her and to be loved by her. All of this was a privilege and one Shrestha did not take for granted.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody as selfless as her,” Shrestha said. “I think she taught me how to treat my friends.”

Many in the senior class have also dyed their hair pink, as another way to honor Bumbac who planned to dye hers’ in the upcoming summer once her nursing exams were finished.

For Rudolph, it provides him with a sense of pride since he is accomplishing something she was excited about.

“I had never bleached or dyed my hair before, so doing it was a big step for me, and I did it in her memory,” Rudolph said. “Having pink hair now reminds me of her every day.”

It’s a well-known fact to all that knew her, and now those that didn’t, that Bumbac loved to laugh. She is described by everyone as an endlessly happy individual, friends and teachers alike.

Amy Brecher, an English teacher at Central, had Bumbac as a student her sophomore year and she describes the effect Bumbac had within the scope of her life.

“What I remember most about her is the energy and infectious positivity she brought into every room she entered,” Brecher said. “Every visit from her brought a smile to my face, and the world is definitely a little dimmer without her.”

Bumbac’s goodness did not come from nowhere, though. Some could even say it’s genetic with the way Shrestha describes Bumbac’s family, who by association then became everyone’s family.

“Her and her family are the most giving people that you will ever meet. I’ve never met anybody like them. They were just unconditional with love, with help, and with support,” Shrestha said.

Parkway Central High School held a candlelight vigil on Feb. 17 down on the stadium’s patio to comfort Bumbac’s loved ones and celebrate her memory. Her funeral came on the following Sunday, Feb. 22.

This story was originally published on Corral on March 26, 2026.