OMAHA, Neb. — Nov. 25, is recognized as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and as Cecilia Perez's friends and family honored her life, they worked to bring light to the dangers of domestic violence.

"We got to fight for her," Emma Wineinger, Cecilia's sister, said. "We got to fight for her."

Dawn Van Sloun, Cecilia's aunt, says Cecilia is not the first member of their family to lose their life to domestic violence.

"Both my mother and my great-grandmother were trapped in their relationships," Van Sloun said. "They had nowhere to go in their minds, no one to help them. And that's not that's not the case. We need to stop the vicious cycle of trauma."

On Tuesday, Cecilia was found dead in a field in Lancaster County. On Thursday, Omaha Police arrested her boyfriend of less than a year, Raymond Evans, for criminal homicide.

"My sister is dead now," Wineinger said. "Not even a year, dude. He ruined so much. He ruined so much for this family."

Heartbroken, Cecilia's family wants the cycle to end.

"I'm not supposed to be organizing candlelight vigils for my niece," Van Sloun said.

And Saturday night, while honoring Cecilia's life, those who loved her the most, encouraged others to fight for their loved ones.

"Reach out to someone that needs your help," Van Sloun said. "Just listen. Pay attention and be an advocate to your loved ones so that they know that they have someplace to go."

Through hugs, tears and candlelight, dozens remember Cecilia, not through the violence that took her life, but as the loving friend, sister, niece and mother she was to so many.

"Cecilia was a character," Van Sloun said. "And everywhere she went, that, that, her laughter, her laugh, it was like this cackle."

A donation fund to help cover funeral costs and help support Cecilia's three young children has been created. To donate, click here .

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