Woman found dead outside Joslyn Center remembered

Andrianna Vaccare was remembered by loved ones as a “beautiful soul” who loved her two daughters, could recite every U.S. president and was a huge fan of Eric Clapton.

More than a dozen loved ones gathered outside the Joslyn Adult Center in Burbank on Wednesday evening to lay flowers and candles under the tree where the 35-year-old mother was found dead on Monday.

Vaccare was raised in Burbank and graduated eighth grade from Saint Finbar School. The class of 1993 has remained tight-knit, meeting up every year at the school’s annual fundraiser, Saint Finbar Fiesta, which Vaccare last attended two years ago.

“She was in love with being a mother — that was her calling, the light that brightened her,” said Marisa Gallegos, a longtime friend from Saint Finbar, who added that Vaccare went on to study at California State University, Los Angeles. Vaccare’s daughters were 14 and 4 years old, respectively.

Photos of Vaccare dangled from a sparkly white garland around the tree as friends huddled around to share memories and say prayers.

Alison Metcalfe remembered her first day of sixth grade as the new kid at Saint Finbar. In art class, Metcalfe accidentally spilled a jar of paint all over herself, and her peers were making fun of her. That’s when Vaccare took off her sweatshirt and gave it to Metcalfe to wear.

“We were friends ever since,” she said, her eyes welling with tears.

Many of Vaccare’s friends who visited the park on Wednesday hadn’t seen her in a couple years.

“It’s so bittersweet to be here because if she could see everyone that’s here for her right now, her heart would be filled with love,” said a longtime friend who asked only to be identified as Jenna.

Jenna, who was a bridesmaid in Vaccare’s wedding, last saw her when Vaccare had her over for dinner at her house a year ago.

“Unfortunately her addictions got the best of her,” she said. “The person who left us recently was not the girl we all knew.”

A month ago, Vaccare reached out to Jenna to tell her she loved and missed her. Vaccare also told her at the time that everything in her life was great.

“So when I heard the news, it saddened me so much because I had no idea,” Jenna said.

Police found her body under a tree outside the Joslyn Adult Center in Burbank on Monday afternoon. Based on the bags and belongings that she had with her, police said she appeared to be homeless. Police reportedly had contact with her in August for an alcohol-related offense at the same park.

Foul play was not believed to be a factor in her death. A report on the cause of death was deferred pending additional tests, coroner’s officials said.