Rosemary Collins, a 51-year-old music teacher at Clearwater High School is being remembered as a "joy" and a "light" by people who knew her.

Collins family said she passed away suddenly after testing positive for COVID-19.​

"It's a shame that her worst nightmare happened," said her daughter, Lindsey Collins. She said her mother had been worried about contracting the virus and was taking precautions.

The family said she felt tired on Sunday. On Monday, she tested positive for COVID-19 but still wasn't experiencing severe symptoms. They said on Tuesday, her condition deteriorated quickly. She was taken to the hospital where she passed away.

"We really want people to take this pandemic seriously," said Lindsey Collins. "We don't want any other family to have to go through what we're going through."

Collins performed for years throughout the Tampa Bay Area in church concerts and musical productions.

She taught in Pinellas County Schools for more than 20 years and was the Director of Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater.

Her sister, Ann Adair, says she loved to be on stage and share her singing talents with others.

"She would find some way to bring a little bit of fun or sparkle or whatever her special brand of pixie dust was to whatever the event was," said Adair.

Collins was known throughout music circles as a mentor and leader.

Meghan Alfaro, President of the Pinellas County Music Educators Association, said they had been friends for 20 years. She said Collins helped her when she first started teaching.

"She really listened to what you said. She had the ability to see people. She would really make connections with students," she said.

Numerous social media posts talk about the impact Collins had on students lives.

Former student Hannah Zazzaro said Collins is one of the reasons she decided to pursue a career in music.

When she learned about her death, she wrote a song for her and posted it to Facebook.

"I went over and sat at my piano and it flooded out of me. I really felt her when I was writing it," she said.

Music is one of the things Collins shared of herself, now music is being used to help those who loved her heal.

"She was a very kind, caring and loving person. She cared very deeply about other people," said Lindsey Collins.

The family is still working on memorial plans.

"It's hard. It's hard not being able to see or talk to my sister and it's really hard for us to not be able to come together to grieve at this time," said Adair.

A GoFund me page has been set up to help with expenses.