Days before she was shot and killed in Long Branch, Mary Schulz, 70, took part in a family art project painting rocks. Her's read: "Love Makes The World Go Round".
Schulz's family said they are now remembering their sibling through those words.
"We will always remember Mary and the beautiful message," said Catherine Lefurge, Mary's sister. "Mary was quiet, thoughtful and caring with a heart as big as the universe."
Schulz was one of four people killed in Long Branch on New Year's Eve. The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office identified the other victims Monday as Linda and Steven Kologi and their 18-year-old daughter, Brittany Kologi.
Minutes before midnight and the start of 2018 authorities said the Kologi's 16-year-old son, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, shot four people at close range in different rooms of the house on Wall Street. He hit each person with several bullets, authorities said.
The gun was legally owned by a family member who resided at the home, though authorities have not said who owned it.
A family friend, an unidentified woman in her 20s, fled the house when the shots began, along with the teen's grandfather, Adrian Kologi, and another family member.
Schulz was the third of nine children and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1965, according to her sister. She attended Manor Junior College in Jenkintown, Penn. and went into a career in human resources. She was also active in community theater.
"Mary lived a seemingly simple ordinary life with extraordinary boundaries of love and accomplishment," Lefurge said.
Schulz met Adrian Kologi in 1985 and has since become part of his family, participating in family events and attending his grandchildren's football and softball games, Lefurge said.
The funeral for Mary Schulz is Saturday at St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church in West Long Branch.
Linda Kologi, 44, was born in Jersey City and lived in North Bergen before settling in Long Branch for 25 years, according to her obituary.
Linda in 2013 worked as a bus driver for the public schools in Long Branch, according to the city's board of education meeting minutes. She was also an avid buyer of lottery tickets.
Gary Patel, a shop owner across the street from the Kologi home said she bought a ticket from his store the day she was killed.
Steve Kologi Sr., 42, grew up in Long Branch and worked at various companies, including Kellogg, the U.S. Postal Service, and Clayton Concrete, in Lakewood, his obituary said.
"Steve Sr. was one of the most productive guys in the warehouse. He always wanted to learn and took coaching well," Roger Daniels, Steve's manager at Kellogg, said. "He was one of those guys that never got involved in drama and never understood why people complained and didn't want to work hard."
Brittany Kologi attended Long Branch High School. She graduated in June 2017 and was a freshman at Stockton University. She loved to paint and draw, according to her obituary.
Her friends described Brittany as a "ray of sunshine" who was a leader on her school's softball team and was always there for her friends.
"Brittany was the best person in high school," Alyssa Julian, a classmate of Brittany's, said. "Everyone loved her. She didn't deserve this."
Visitation services for the Kologi family will be Sunday and the funeral Monday at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch.
Alex Napoliello contributed to this report.
Erin Banco may be reached at ebanco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ErinBanco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.