Obituaries
Thousands Gather to Mourn Colleen Ritzer
The 24-year-old teacher was killed at Danvers High School last week.
A line of mourners stretched down Essex Street in Andover Sunday, as thousands went to St. Augustine Church to pay their respects to Colleen Ritzer's family.
Ritzer, 24, was murdered at Danvers High School last week, and 14-year-old Philip Chism is charged with her murder.
At the church there were hundreds of photos of Ritzer as well as messages of love and sadness from her Danvers students. There were tears as well as loving memories shared by many who knew her.
She was described as kind, loving, and "such a good kid" by friends, someone always willing to help out.
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There will be a funeral Mass Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made to the Colleen Ritzer Memorial Scholarship.
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"Colleen adored spending time with her family; she was an amazing daughter and big sister," Ritzer's obituary reads. "She loved attending family gatherings and parties no matter the location, as long as it meant spending as much time with family as possible. She was always thinking of others first."
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