By David Eck

DAYTON DEANERY — St. Christopher Parish in Vandalia held a memorial service Jan. 14 for Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, whose remains and those of her fetus were found in North Carolina Jan. 11.

The 20-year-old Marine from Vandalia had been missing for nearly a month. Her family is active at St. Christopher.

The service was incorporated into the parish’s weekly rosary prayer, parish officials said. The church, which seats about 800, was overflowing. Music during the service included songs recognizing Lauterbach’s military service.

The Lauterbachs have been long-time parishioners at St. Christopher and Maria Lauterbach’s mother, Mary, has been a very active parish volunteer, parish officials said.

"The parish community of St. Christopher is very thankful to everyone who has been and is continuing to pray for Maria, her baby, Gabriel Joseph and her family," Elise Wahle, the parish youth ministry coordinator said in a statement "It is extremely evident over these last few days what a loving and supporting community we have.

"We remember Maria with much love for her strength, her vitality, her independent spirit, her talents on the playing field, her pride in being a Marine and her affection," the statement continued. "We have complete faith in the wisdom of God’s infinite plan and his mercy on all those affected by this tragedy. God is our source of all comfort and we turn to him now, confident of his compassionate presence."

Marine Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean, a co-worker accused of killing Lauterbach and her fetus, is the subject of a nationwide search.