Friends and family gather to remember the life of Rosaura Hernandez

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD News 13) -

Family and friends of Rosaura Hernandez gathered for a vigil Monday night. The 18-year-old was killed one year ago, at an apartment near 22nd and Craycroft.

Joshua Hilaire, Rosaura’s boyfriend at the time, is currently in Pima County Jail.

“It has been the darkest moment of my life,” said April Barbosa, her mother.“It’s hard to realize all these holidays, all these special moments, she’s not going to be there.”

Barbosa shared her heartbreak with us last year.

She said the memory of her daughter, lifeless on the apartment floor, was burned into her brain.

“I will never get that sight out of my mind. I will never stop feeling my daughter in my arms, her blood against me,” Barbosa said.

Barbosa said she learned a lot about Rosaura in the days after her death and the lasting impact she had on those around her.“

People would come in and be like oh, we’re short on money for food and she would give them her lunch money,” Barbosa said.

Barbosa said many strangers reached out after her death and shared ways Rosaura touched their lives.

“To me, she was just my baby girl. I didn’t know she was out in this world interacting with so many people, doing so much good for so many people.”

It’s with that kindness in mind that Barbosa decided to start an organization.“Justice for Rosaura” helps victims of violence.“We build them up to keep going when they feel like they can’t get away from their abuse. We help them find the resources they need. We’re their friends. We’re more than an organization. We are there for them,” Barbosa said.

Barbosa is on a mission to make sure no one else in our community endures the same kind of heartbreak.“If we can stop it at it’s source before it happens, then maybe we can have less violence in this world. There’s just too much,” Barbosa.

Hilaire‘s trial is set to start in September.