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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Friends and loved ones gathered Sunday night to remember one of their own.</p><p>Alyssa Gonzalez, 28, suddenly passed away of natural causes on Oct. 28 of this year. With the help of two friends, a remembrance was held in her memory at the Martz Pavilion in Kirby Park.</p><p>Cinnamon Austin, of Bear Creek, and Tina Thomas, of Scranton, organized the event, which was closed to the public. During the ceremony held at dusk, Gonzalez was remembered with a balloon release and a candlelight vigil in the park. Those who loved Gonzalez spoke and remembered her as a loving and caring person.</p><p>&#8220;She was unconditionally my best friend,&#8221; Austin said. &#8220;I needed someone to help me see through all the troubles in my life. Alyssa was that light.&#8221;</p><p>Austin&#8217;s idea of a balloon release actually came from Gonzalez herself. On February of this year, on the one-year anniversary of Gonzalez&#8217;s brother&#8217;s death, Gonzalez released balloons as well.</p><p>Austin, who has known Gonzalez for seven years, said she was her best friend. Gonzalez helped Austin through difficult times in her life and even helped her out with relationship problems. As Austin let her balloon into the Kirby Park sky, she said &#8220;Fly free.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;No one enters your life by mistake,&#8221; Austin said. &#8220;She touched the lives of everyone who met her.&#8221;</p><p>Gonzalez, who was originally from Paterson, New Jersey, graduated from Pocono Mountain East High School in 2005.</p><p>About 25 people were on hand for the event. There was a DJ playing music, as well as a slideshow and cork board to display photos of Gonzalez.</p><p>Just before the candlelight vigil, Austin gave a touching speech about her lost friend. She told the story of how Gonzalez helped her through difficult relationships. Austin said if it weren&#8217;t for Gonzalez, she wouldn&#8217;t have been in college.</p><p>&#8220;I would not be one class away from a degree,&#8221; Austin said. &#8220;Alyssa had qualities that most of us would only wish we could possess.&#8221;</p><p>Joe Covert, Kingston, said he knew Gonzalez since July of this year. He felt he needed to come out and show his respect because she was a gentle person.</p><p>&#8220;She never judged anyone, which is rare to find these days,&#8221; Covert said. &#8220;I bought a candle and we&#8217;re all family here. She gave us a beautiful day.&#8221;</p><p>Minister Jason Steven of the All Faith Ceremonies was on hand and provided a prayer during the vigil.</p><p>Timmy Rexx knew Gonzalez for several years. Rexx helped Gonzalez get to and from work on several occasions because Gonzalez was without a vehicle for some time. Rexx said he learned to love her.</p><p>The two would travel to Coldstone Creamery for a bowl of ice cream more often than not.</p><p>&#8220;It hit me like a baseball bat when I found out,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Nothing cheers you up like ice cream and that was her.&#8221;</p><p>The night finished with everyone standing in a circle, holding candles. Gonzalez&#8217;s friends took turns telling a story or remembering Gonzalez.</p><p>&#8220;We all knew about the passion she has with everything,&#8221; Austin said. &#8220;No matter what she found a way through it.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Gonzalez </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Paige_Camm.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gonzalez </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cinnamon Austin, of Bear Creek, talks to the people who attended the event celebrating the life of Alyssa Gonzalez at Kirby Park on Sunday. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cinnamon Austin, of Bear Creek, talks to the people who attended the event celebrating the life of Alyssa Gonzalez at Kirby Park on Sunday. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Those who were close to Alyssa Gonzalez release balloons in her memory at Kirby Park on Sunday night. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Those who were close to Alyssa Gonzalez release balloons in her memory at Kirby Park on Sunday night. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">People who attended the event in memorium of Alyssa Gonzalez light candles and share personal stories of her at Kirby Park on Sunday night. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111615Gonzalez2.jpg</photo3><caption3>People who attended the event in memorium of Alyssa Gonzalez light candles and share personal stories of her at Kirby Park on Sunday night. 11/15/15. Sean McKeag</caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Dozens gather for vigil remembering Alyssa Gonzalez</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Nick Wagner</p><p>nwagner@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dozens gather in Kirby Park for vigil of recently-passed Alyssa Gonzalez