Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, 39, was killed alongside her six children on Friday, July 24, when her husband, Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, shot the family before setting fires around the home and shooting himself.
Obituaries and funeral arrangements have been announced for the six children who were killed in a murder-suicide in Michigan.
The six children were 15-year-old Keegan, 12-year-old Bennett, 11-year-old Smith, 11-year-old Ella, 11-year-old Caroline and 5-year-old Theodore.
The touching tributes paint portraits of impassioned, ambitious young people brimming with competing interests and distinctive personalities.
A “tribute wall” is available on each obituary, with teachers and friends sharing photos and memories for each of the children.
Keegan Michael Karolkiewicz, 15, was the oldest of the Karolkiewicz kids and was going into his first year of high school, described as outgoing, friendly, funny, gentle and known for befriending others.
Keegan ran cross-country, always wanting to finish faster than his most recent race, and had just passed drivers ed while looking forward to getting his license next April.
His obituary noted he had a habit of including everyone and noticed those standing alone.
Bennett, 12, shared his family’s deep love of the outdoors.
His obituary says he loved all things outdoors.
Smith Wyatt Karolkiewicz, 11, stood out for his distinctive dietary choices in a fishing family.
Smith loved playing in the sand and hunting for Petoskey stones, was a devout vegetarian who made himself vegetarian dinners on his own grill, but still joined his family in fishing.
He took great care of his little brother Teddy but did not want to share a bed with him at his grandparents’ house because Teddy slept like a starfish, and any time they had to share a bed, Smith would be asleep on the floor in the morning.
The two 11-year-old girls, Ella and Caroline, were both adopted from China and embodied different temperaments.
Ella Joy Karolkiewicz, age 11, was born February 21, 2015, in Hangzhou, China, and adopted when she was three years old.
Whenever a family member lost something, Ella would volunteer to find it—sometimes for a small fee—and was soft-spoken and deliberate, making an impact when she said something.
During family gatherings while her siblings roughhoused and ran, she loved to be with the adults, especially her mom Mandy, and was her mother’s shadow.
Caroline Grace Karolkiewicz, age 11, was born November 21, 2014, in Hangzhou, China, and was adopted by Amanda and Kristopher Karolkiewicz when she was two years old.
Caroline was up for conquering any challenge and last summer gave herself the challenge of reading 100 books, accomplishing it.
Born with limited use of the right side of her body, she played basketball, joined a swim team, and fished.
Theodore Briggs “Teddy” Karolkiewicz, 5, was the youngest and a beloved presence in the household.
Whenever he came to his Grammy and Papi’s home, the first thing he’d do was find their two pairs of boxing gloves, give one pair to the nearest innocent bystander, and square off; he loved Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, but loved motorcycle rides with his Papi even more.
He enjoyed preschool but was hesitant to start kindergarten that fall at Peach Plains Elementary School, where his mom was a beloved substitute teacher.
Their mother, Mandy, was equally multifaceted.
Mandy’s parents Steve and Becky Lawwill released a statement saying “Our daughter Mandy was a kind and devoted soul who loved her family and her students.”
The parents also stated “We treasured every moment we had with her and her six children, and words cannot adequately express our devastation.”
Travel was one of Amanda’s many joys, and she had just taken her two adopted daughters to China.
Amanda Karolkiewicz spent a week in China with her two adopted daughters, teaching them about their birth country and culture, and documented the trip on TikTok, sharing videos and photos of the girls enjoying a day at Shanghai Disneyland and exploring Hangzhou.
A few years before she and her six children were tragically killed, Amanda had written a children’s book about learning to see the good in oneself and dedicated it to each of her children, by name.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools recognized Mandy Karolkiewicz as “a Premier Substitute Teacher at Peach Plains” who “goes above and beyond for students, especially when they’re having a hard day” and pours her heart into her work.
In the viral moment that has consumed Michigan and beyond, the family’s obituaries revealed not just individual losses but the bonds tying them together—siblings who cared for each other, parents who nurtured their children’s diverse passions, and a tight-knit household centered on shared adventures.
Family spokesperson Emily Jones wrote in a statement that “Mandy and her children had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged, and we want this service to reflect that.”
The obituaries and tribute pages have drawn an outpouring of memories from teachers, friends and neighbors who knew the children in their schools and communities. Those who worked with Mandy described her warmth and patience, while those who knew her children emphasized their kindness and potential.
A celebration of life for the six Karolkiewicz children and their mother, Amanda, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24 at Harvest Vertical Church in Grand Haven.