The parents of slain teen Emily Stauffer delivered an emotional eulogy in a packed Edson, Alta. school gymnasium Friday afternoon.

Stauffer, 14, was killed last Saturday while walking along a wooded trail. The murder has sent shockwaves through the small community west of Edmonton.

Her mother, Juanita Stauffer, said that talking about her daughter helped with the sorrow.

"I heard of a father who gave a eulogy for his child and he said 'You know, it's not hard, I could talk about my child forever,' and when I heard that I thought that was so true," she told the hundreds of mourners. "I could talk about Emily a long, long time."

Stauffer talked about Emily's love of photography, music and nature.

Emily's father, a local Baptist minister, spoke of his daughter's deep faith.

CTV's Janet Dirks said Terry Stauffer talked of how his faith allowed him to be able to speak in such a tough time.

"(Terry Stauffer) said when he learned that it was his daughter that was dead, he was shocked and devastated and fell to his knees," she said. "(He said) he asked himself if his faith really mattered . . . it has to matter now and that's what's keeping them going."

Her mother said that "if it weren't for God holding us up, we would be puddles on the floor."

The service was held at a gymnasium inside a Christian school, and organizers set up speakers to broadcast the service outside in case there was an overflow crowd.

Terry Stauffer has asked that people make donations to a Bible camp in his daughter's memory.

In a post to his blog Wednesday night, Terry Stauffer thanked everyone for their love and support.

"Some of you may see strength when you see us and hear from us, but please know that we are very human," Stauffer wrote.

"We run through the full range of emotions, but God is our refuge and strength. If you see any strength in us, understand that the glory is God's alone."

Stauffer was killed in broad daylight, just metres from several homes.

Two young boys, believed to be nine and 12 years old, witnessed the attack and rushed to a nearby home to get help, but it was too late.

Residents of Edson, located about 200 kilometres west of Edmonton, have been on edge since the murder because the killer remains on the loose.

Adding to the tension, a woman in her 20s was attacked Tuesday afternoon while walking along another path about one to two kilometres from where Stauffer was found.

The victim escaped and has provided police with a description of her assailant.

The RCMP is not providing updates on how the search for the suspect is going.

With files from The Canadian Press