SAN ANTONIO – A familiar face in the San Antonio roller derby scene, Mary "Shevel Knievel" Goldman, was strong on and off skates.

"If you were going through something, she was that shoulder," said Goldman's friend, Amanda "Mad Sinner" Vasquez.

It was her friends and family's turn to be strong this week, though, after Goldman died from injuries she sustained in a car crash the week before. Her parents, Pat Goldman and Susan Shenfield, said their daughter was on her way to Las Vegas for the roller derby convention, RollerCon, on July 21 when she was involved in a crash.

She died a week later.

"As parents we always wonder how our children will turn out when they become adults," Goldman said. "And fortunately, Mary was the kind of daughter and the kind of person you always hoped they would be. And everybody who knew her loved her, and she loved everybody."

"I want to be like her when I grow up," Shenfeld added.

Goldman, who held multiple positions throughout her years skating, was most recently a part of the River City Rebels said her friends, who remembered her for her kindness, warmth and compassion.

"She never looked down her nose at you -- at anybody, and was always there with open arms," said Julian "Everlasting Quadstopper" Villarreal.

Gathering on Sunday, Goldman's family by both blood and roller derby remembered her a "celebration of life"

"We haven't lost one moment of every moment," Shenfeld said. "We have 37 years with Mary, and she was a precious being.

They celebrated her fashion, by sporting her signature styles.

"She always had a fanny pack. Anytime she went out, instead of having to carry her purse," said her boyfriend, who goes by the skating name "El Gallo," as he wore one of Goldman's fanny packs.

El Gallo said Goldman and he used to open up their home to people.

"Some people used to stay for weeks, two months with us - no rent, no nothing," he said. "She doesn't want -- didn't want anyone to be afraid to ask for help, and was always welcome."

Goldman's best friend, Amy "Karate Chapa" Worthy-Chapa remembered Goldman as “wild and wonderful" friend with a "let's do it attitude."

"She just approached things with love and understanding," Worthy-Chapa said. "She just always wanted to have a good time, and everything was not such a big deal."

Their memories are fond and warm, just like Goldman, and their memories aren't going anywhere.

"So I have her right here on my shoulder, telling me 'hey, just go out there and do it. Why are you scared? You don't need to be scared,'" said Roxanne "Dire Rita" Mendoza.