Elaine Goldberg struggled with drugs, and she was the first victim of the Kensington strangler.
The final touches were completed in the school gym at Saint Martin of Tours in Oxford Circle for Saturday night's benefit in honor of Elaine Goldberg.
Balloon arches, a nod to her prom committee days and banners were made to show different parts of her life.
"The banners each symbolize different parts of Elaine's life. We have where she went to pre-school, and then we have Girl Scouts, each representing different parts of her life," said Elaine's sister Careen Goldberg.
The event is a celebration of Goldberg's 21 years before her life was cut short by the Kensington Strangler.
DNA evidence linked her murder to Antonio Rodrguez, who police say confessed to killing Goldberg and two other women.
But the focus for Saturday night's celebration was on happier times, and the many family and friends who love her and miss her every day.
"Elaine's got a ton of friends, and they've all been dying to come up with something that they could do so that they felt like they were doing something in her honor," said Elaine's father Joe Goldberg.
"We're celebrating Elaine, and everybody's coming out and showing their support, and how much they loved Elaine. And it's just really overwhelming at how many people have donated things, and like wow," expressed Elaine's mother Darrah Goldberg.
