Brooke Mulford, 12; was undaunted by illness

On her first day of fourth grade at the Osage School in Voorhees, Brooke Mulford arrived wearing a hat. But within a few minutes, Brooke, who had cancer and lost her hair due to chemotherapy, took the hat off and was outside playing with the other students, recalled Colleen Canale, who taught Mulford in fourth and fifth grades.

"She just dove right in," Canale said. "There was a determination in her beyond the cancer. She wouldn't let the cancer bring her down."

Brooke Gabrielle Mulford, 12, of Voorhees, died Monday, June  12, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia after battling neuroblastoma for more than eight years. Her loved ones described a girl who despite her battle with cancer always wore a smile and brought with her an infectious joy, rarely complaining about her circumstances.

Miss Mulford's mother, Amy, remembered a time during her chemotherapy when the nurse was having trouble accessing her implanted port. The nurse, realizing Miss Mulford was in pain, felt bad and repeatedly apologized, Amy Mulford said.

"Brooke kept trying to make her feel better, saying, 'That's OK. You're trying your best.' That's the way she was," shesaid.

Canale said her ability to remain upbeat despite her cancer inspired other students to be more open to the disabilities and diseases of other students.

Miss Mulford's joy also translated to her love for animals. She had a dog, Bailey, and a kitten, Socks. She often sponsored animals that were sick, using her own money to help pay for their care, her mother said. She also enjoyed feeding the ducks in the backyard of her family's home.

Her other interests included playing video games and drawing, Amy Mulford said.

Miss Mulford was a student at Voorhees Middle School. Before that she was a student at Osage School and Salisbury Christian School in Bethesda, Md.

Since her death, there has been an outpouring of support on her Facebook page, "Blessings for Brooke," from friends and community members. Amy Mulford said the family was especially appreciative of the support the community has shown over the last few years.

"She was a shining light in this world and I feel like it's gotten darker without her," she said.

In addition to her mother, Miss Mulford is survived by her father, Robert.

. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17,  at  Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd. Burial will be private.

Donations can be made to the Brooke Mulford Foundation, Box 545, Salisbury, Md. 21803.

Condolences for the family may be posted at http://kainmurphy.com/condolences/.