Twenty-year-old Eckerd College student Ally Willen’s disappearance came to a tragic end Saturday, after New Zealand authorities found her body at the national park she went missing from days earlier.

“Certainly devastating, we just are trying to reflect on what Ally would want us do,” said Willen’s uncle, Jeff Henry.

Willen was majoring in Humane Development, and studying abroad in New Zealand since January. Her family said her love for nature is what drew her to the Remote Island.

“She spent a lot of her time hiking and absolutely adored animals,” said Henry.

And two weeks ago Willen would go on what would be her last hiking trip at a New Zealand national park.

Her family said bad weather separated her from friends she was hiking with, and while they were able to make it to safety, Willen didn’t.

In response to the tragic discovery, Eckerd College released this statement  “The Eckerd community is grateful for the time we had with Ally and grieve together for her family and friends. Ally had a joy for life that reminds us of the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: It is not the length of life, but the depth of life.”

A life that her family said she always lived to the fullest. Her caring and nurturing personality they say left an impression on everyone she came across.

“She was known by everybody of who she was,” said Henry.

The campus plans to hold a memorial service for Willen later this week. Willen was from Akron, Ohio and was living on campus.