June 2 is Annmarie Rita's birthday, and while she's no longer of this world, many gathered to honor the life, and mourn the death of a hardy, intelligent, and independent woman.

More than 100 people attended a memorial service on the Onset Bluffs on Sunday, June 2, to remember Rita, who was killed while trying to cross Cranberry Highway late last month.

Members of Rita's family, including her daughter, Jessica Bruno, and her cousin Johanna "Yogi" Szabo-Blenkhorn, visited Onset for the service.

"I know we're all here for the same reason," said Wareham resident Lynne Burroughs, who helped organize the memorial. "Some of us may have passed by her on the street and taken notice, because you couldn't miss Annmarie."

Burroughs recalled her own experience with Annmarie — bringing her blankets, giving her rides, and talking to her.

One thing Burroughs made sure to note was just how strong a woman Rita was.

"You all saw the backpack on her that probably no man standing here could carry," said Burroughs. She also described Rita's attitude toward the New England winters she braved for years and years, saying Rita told her: "I survived the winters in Canada, do you think I can't handle Cape Cod?"

Amanda Adonizio said she was working at McDonalds — near the scene of the crash — the night Annmarie was killed.

"I gave her her last McChicken that night," said Adonizio.

Adonizio said that over the years, she'd struck up a friendship with her.

"When I worked at Cumby's is when I became friends with her," she said. "We used to just shoot the [expletive]."

She said Rita was "more real than anybody around us. … I just wanted to come to make peace" with her death.

Brian O'Connor stopped by to pay his respects as well. He said that he and a friend would see Rita around town often and tried to help her out when they could.

"We'd always stop to talk with her," said O'Conner. "We'd always see her outside Dunkin Donuts. … He'd always buy her a coffee."

O'Conner's daughter, Riley, had her own memories of Rita.

"She used to sit outside the community building when I went to Taekwondo," said Riley. "I did want to get to know her better."

At the close of the memorial, the group sang "Happy Birthday" to Rita, and released balloons into the air.

Burroughs also circulated a petition aimed at improving safety for pedestrians on Cranberry Highway.

"What's going on here today," Burroughs said, "will not end here today."