Friends and family members of Abby Goodrich, a Freedom student who passed away at the age of 12 in 2010 after battling leukemia, gathered at the Flag Park in Rochester to honor her memory on Oct. 25.

The memorial was organized by Goodrich’s aunt, Alicia Gini, with the help of Senior Mia Vogel.

“I organized this event as a surprise for my sister, Abby’s mom, in place of what should have been Abby’s senior pictures,” Gini said.

Before the photos were taken, Gini made a small speech to honor Goodrich and all the people who attended. Twenty of Goodrich’s closest friends all showed interest to take part in the event. All the students invited were seniors. Gini, a professional photographer, held this photography session in a special place in her heart.

“As a photographer for over 10 years, I had often times though about being able to take Abby’s senior pictures. It was something I looked forward to enormously. This gave me the opportunity to fulfill that void,” Gini said.

Freedom Fortune 500 made the shirts that Goodrich’s friends and family wore for the memorial.

“It was [Vogel’s] idea to have the shirts made, but I suggested for them to read ‘forever in our hearts.’ I wanted the shirts red and white, so it would flow nice with the photo we had of Abby,” Gini said.  

Although very young at the time of her death, Goodrich made a large impact on her peers and people around her.

“Abby wouldn’t want us to be sad and that photoshoot was for her and her family. Just by doing [the memorial], it made me realize that she wasn’t forgotten and the people that showed up took the time out of their schedule just to be there,” Vogel said.