A Celebration of Briana Blackwelder's Life and Legacy

On what would have been 29th birthday, friends and relatives gathered Friday to remember her as a sparkling personality whose work as a midwife brought joy to hundreds of people.

Blackwelder, a Laguna Niguel native who lived in Salt Lake City, was  as she and her brother Ian were driving to California. Ian, who was seriously injured in the crash, is expected to make a full recovery.

On Friday, amid tears and laughter, Briana's life as a midwife, sister, daughter and friend was celebrated by more than 200 people at a Mormon church in Aliso Viejo. (An earlier memorial service was held in )

"The most remarkable feature about Briana was her father's brown eyes," her brother Thomas said at the memorial. "When we remember those eyes, we should remember to live our lives as she did."

Family members told of Blackwelder's love of her career, assisting in more than 300 births.

"Briana knew she came from a legacy of those who care for others," said her cousin Josh Blackwelder. "She was a sparkling and lively girl. I will miss those great Bri hugs, that great Bri smile, and I will miss my truly great friend."

who worked with Blackwelder as a midwife at Fern Midwifery in Utah, recalled a favorite moment with her best friend: rushing to a late-night birth in icy weather.  

"Briana made us some tea .... It was so cold in Briana's little car," she said. "As we were driving, we just looked at each other, and we were, like, 'This is too much joy,' we said as we were on our way to receive a baby while balancing hot tea on our laps."

Larson also shared a funny fact about Blackwelder's driving skills.

"To me, Briana was all-knowing—she was like my personal sage.  There was nothing she couldn't do, no task she couldn't master. But there was one thing she couldn't do, no matter how hard I tried to teach her: She couldn't drive a stick shift. Happy birthday, Briana."

You can see a video about Blackwelder's life here. It was made by David Perry, who had Blackwelder assist at his son's birth a few months ago. At the end of the video is a quote from Blackwelder:

"All in tears we watched that perfect one, overcome with his presence, and the very real knowing that this being came to us from somewhere else."