It has not been revealed how Kepner died when she was a passenger on Carnvial Horizon, which headed to Miami after a trip to the Caribbean, ABC News reported Sunday.
Kepner, affectionally known as “Anna Banana” to her grandmother, was reportedly set to graduate in May and had just taken the exam to join the military.
The Titusville resident’s death is being investigated by the FBI, both ABC and Florida Today reported, citing the federal agency and the cruise line.
“She was the best child you could ever meet,” her family told ABC News. “We’ll always remember her for who she was.”
Temple Christian held a gathering for Kepner on Monday, according to recent Facebook posts.
“I want to thank everyone that came out this morning for Anna and her family. The parking lot was full of so many that knew and loved her,” administrator Andrea Stoner wrote in a post published Monday. “… Praise God that we can rest in knowing that Anna is with our Lord and Savior. It doesn’t make our grief any easier, but God is close to the broken hearted. … Please continue to keep the family, her friends, and her peers at TCS in your prayers.”
The Miami-Dade County Examiner’s Office is conducting the autopsy in this case, reports say.