Family, friends and complete strangers gathered Saturday to remember the life of Alexandra Flanagan.

A memorial service was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church to honour the Barrie woman who was found dead after she had gone missing last July.

While family and friends of the 33-year-old Barrie hairdresser filed into the church, a number of people who had never even met Flanagan took seats as well.

Renee McCarthy was one of them.

“I never had the chance to know her. I went and helped on the first big search that took place in Sunnidale Park last summer. I felt I needed to do something to help this girl,” she said. “I have a daughter of my own around the same age. I can’t imagine what her family is going through. I had to come today and show my support.”

Flanagan was last seen alive July 8 walking in Sunnidale Park.

Friends and family organized a number of searches in the Sunnidale Park area over the next few months to help find any clues that could help find Flanagan.

On Oct. 9 police confirmed that Flanagan’s remains had been found in Lackies Bush. Later, human remains found at Johnson’s Beach were also identified as Flanagan’s.

Police are continuing a homicide investigation into her death but have made no arrests.

The Flanagan family had said Saturday’s memorial service was to help bring closure to all those who knew Alex and her tragic story.

Following the service in the chapel, friends and family gathered in the church’s hall. A slide show of photos from Flanagan’s life was shown, bringing many to tears.

Although Cheri Sykes only met Flanagan once while visiting a hair-salon she worked in, she remembers her as a “lovely girl”.

“It’s such a shame what happened to her. Look at all the lives she touched,” she said. “I hope this service will bring some closure to the people who knew her.”