Friends and family gathered at a church in Hayward Wednesday night to remember a 21-year old nursing student from South Korea who was the youngest victim of Monday's mass murder at Oikos University.

Several hundred people attended the private funeral service held for Lydia Sim at the Hayward Korean Baptist Church.

Within the East Bay's close-knit Korean community, the death of Sim has many feeling like they have lost a member of their family.

A slideshow revealed photos of Sim as a baby surrounded by loving parents and a younger brother who are shattered by their loss.

"They're inside right now," family friend Joyce Cho said. "They are crying. They are praying for Lydia."

Before the service started at 8 p.m., florists carried wreaths into the church where Lydia worshipped and socialized. Friends said she also taught Sunday School there for six years to children who adored her.

"She was very patient. She loved kids. She was very good with kids," recalled family friend Joseph Choe.

Friends said Sim dreamed of becoming a pediatrician one day, but first she planned to work as a nurse. Lydia chose the program at Oikos University because it seemed like a natural fit.

Close family friends said Lydia's parents took on her dreams as their own and were focused on helping their eldest daughter achieve her goals.

"The parents worked so hard. We are immigrants from South Korea. We had hopes. We had dreams. We wanted to raise our children  here. Their dream is gone," said Cho. 

The memorial for the nursing student was essentially a funeral service. Sim will be buried Thursday afternoon in Los Altos.