'Glee' Cast & Fans Mourn Naya Rivera After Her Passing

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On the seventh anniversary of her Glee castmate Cory Monteith's death, police recovered the body of 33-year-old actress and singer Naya Rivera, who went missing last week during a boating trip with her son in a Southern California lake.

Rivera went missing on July 8 in Ventura County's Lake Piru. Her 4-year-old son Josey was found sleeping on the boat Rivera rented hours after it was supposed to be returned. When authorities interviewed Josey, he told them his mommy went swimming and never came back up. He was wearing his life vest while an adult-size one was found in the boat. Friends and family expected the worst and spent the last five days searching for her whereabouts.

Officials found her body this morning, and police believe Rivera spent her last remaining energy getting her son back on the boat.

Rivera was most known for her role as Santana Lopez, a groundbreaking lesbian character in the hit TV show Glee. Earlier this morning, some of the Glee castmates gathered along the lake with Rivera's family for what looks like a prayer.

\u201cThis photo of the cast of #Glee gathering together at Lake Piru today where #NayaRivera\u2019s body was found is incredibly powerful \u2014 especially when you consider today is the 7 year anniversary of Cory Monteith\u2019s death. I\u2019m a mess.\u201d
— Dave Quinn (@Dave Quinn) 1594668192

A truly heartbreaking situation, fans are mourning Rivera by sharing how she touched their lives, reliving emotional moments from Glee, including the heartbreaking rendition of "If I Die Young" she sang for Montieth, and more. Castmates Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, and more have also shared their thoughts:

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\u201cI\u2019m crying this is so heart breaking Naya had a beautiful soul and a voice of a angel I hope Cory and her meet again in heaven and are taking care of each other I\u2019m so sorry for her family and friends \u2764\ufe0f \n \nShe may be gone but nothing can erase the memories of her. \n#NayaRivera\u201d
— Ire \u263b\u2077 (@Ire \u263b\u2077) 1594664557

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\u201crest in wonderful peace sweet naya. our hearts are broken, but i hope you know what a difference you have made in our lives. we miss you already. \ud83d\udc94 #nayariviera\u201d
— haley \ud83d\ude07 (@haley \ud83d\ude07) 1594675823

\u201ctake care of each other \ud83e\udd0d\ud83d\udd4a #nayariviera\u201d
— abby\u2077\u2b50\ufe0f\ud83d\udc97misses eaw \ud83d\udc0b (@abby\u2077\u2b50\ufe0f\ud83d\udc97misses eaw \ud83d\udc0b) 1594673908

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\u201cthis always breaks my heart because it was right after cory monteiths death & the ending of this scene wasnt scripted. its even more heartbreaking now w everything thats happening. my thoughts are with her family. rest in peace naya rivera #nayariviera https://t.co/BcRO3Ti9CE\u201d
— phia\u2661 (@phia\u2661) 1594672215

\u201cGlee really was my whole world growing up, and your beautiful voice was incredible. You will be so very missed here. Thank you for giving us a character that represented so many. \ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94 #nayariviera\u201d
— Shelbee (@Shelbee) 1594670757

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\u201cTo Naya; you helped people find themselves, you helped people feel less alone, you did many things in this world that mattered. Rest in peace. \n#nayariviera\u201d
— Charlie (@Charlie) 1594673439

\u201cListening to the police report on how Naya was able to put Josey back in the boat....a mother\u2019s love. She was amazing till the end. Rest in Peace Naya #nayariviera\u201d
— Church Girl (@Church Girl) 1594674827

\u201cNaya isn\u2019t Santana Lopez Naya is a mother, sister, daughter and a survivor she was a strong woman who should be remembered as a amazing loving person may Naya rest easy now. We love you Naya \ud83e\udd0d #nayariviera\u201d
— cristina (Taylor\u2019s Version) (@cristina (Taylor\u2019s Version)) 1594671975

\u201cI\u2019ve always thought this scene cannot get any sadder... i had no idea. Rest in peace my angel \u2764\ufe0f@NayaRivera #nayariviera\u201d
— M. Abbey. \u30df\u2606 \ud83d\udc9b (@M. Abbey. \u30df\u2606 \ud83d\udc9b) 1594673568

\u201cthank you to naya rivera for helping me feel more comfortable with my sexuality and giving me a lesbian character to relate to. i'm so sorry it had to turn out like this. she helped more people than we could ever realize and my heart is broken today. rest in peace. #NayaRivera\u201d
— lexi (@lexi) 1594675988

\u201c\ud83d\udc94 Naya, you will be missed so much. \ud83d\ude1e\u201d
— Josh Sussman (@Josh Sussman) 1594661559

\u201cSick to my stomach. RIP #nayarivera\u201d
— Josh Gad (@Josh Gad) 1594676254

\u201cI had the opportunity to work with the one and only #nayarivera. So much talent. Deeply saddened and touched. Please, let her have peace, Lord. \ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\ud83d\udc94\u201d
— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1594674636