Thousands of people attended a vigil honoring the passing of Emma MacDonald (née Pasterczyk) led by her loved ones at the University of Massachusetts at 3 p.m. in front of the Campus Center on Tuesday, May 5.
“We are here today to honor and remember,” Gisella Zuñiga, director of the Center for Women & Community (CWC), said. “Whether or not you knew Emma, we are all deeply impacted by her loss.”
UMass held a vigil for Emma at the Campus Center on 05/05/2026 (Dylan Podlinski)
Emma, a 31-year-old mother who worked for UMass’ catering services, was killed on April 22 in an incident State and UMass Police are investigating as a homicide. Her husband, who police say admitted to killing her intentionally after being arrested, was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on April 23 and is being held without bail.
Chancellor Reyes announced the vigil in a campus wide email sent on May 1. The university closed all dining operations from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 5 to allow those who worked with Emma to attend the vigil.
Members of the CWC handed out information cards for their services, including the Sexual Assault Support & Advocacy (SASA) Hotline, as well as carnations for mourners to place at the memorial at the Campus Center steps where others had placed flowers, photographs, votive candles and other commemorative items in the days since Emma’s death. CWC also brought canvases on which mourners wrote messages in Emma’s memory.
Mourners, including Gov. Maura Healey and Chancellor Javier Reyes, wore garments or ribbons in purple, Emma’s favorite color, as well as paper ladybugs provided by the CWC, an animal Emma loved. A string quartet performed on the steps.
Attendees wore purple ribbons to honor Emma. (Alexandra Rowe)
Koryna Moore met Emma when the two were elementary schoolers in Palmer, MA. The pair were very close growing up and “were always laughing, singing and just saying YOLO along the way,” Moore said.
According to Moore, Emma’s high school senior yearbook quote was a Kenny Chesney lyric “I live to love and laugh a lot. That’s all I need.”
“This quote sums up how Emma lived her life very well,” Moore said.
“She always knew how to make you feel better,” Moore said. “If you were going through something, she was just tender and loving and compassionate, but also equally fierce and fun and exciting.”
Emma’s coworker Robin, who works in UMass’ catering, grew close to Emma after meeting her through work four years ago. “Emma is a part of my life and my kids’ lives every day. We worked side by side, she was my partner in crime,” Robin said.
“We would both talk about how our biggest accomplishment was being a mother,” Robin said. She said Emma’s daughter is the love of her life. “She told me how proud she was to be her mom every day.”
UMass held a vigil for Emma at the Campus Center on 05/05/2026. (Alexandra Rowe)
“Emma’s world revolved around her daughter,” Kerri Tenczar, a friend of Emma’s since high school said.
Chris Connell, a UMass dining employee who met Emma through work, spoke of her love for travel, including the trips she took to Las Vegas and Disney with her friends and family. Emma would often give him the leftovers of the meals she cooked for her daughter, Connell said.
Kristen Talbert, a close friend of Emma’s since meeting her in art class in 2007, said she and Emma’s other loved ones are organizing fundraisers in Palmer, MA, where Emma grew up.
“I’m doing my best to keep my mind busy and doing what I can for her memory, domestic violence survivors and [Emma’s daughter],” Talbert said. Funds raised from raffles, a GoFundMe and other events are to go into a trust for Emma’s daughter.
The group also plans to fundraise for causes related to domestic violence. “Unfortunately, pretty much every woman that I know has experienced it,” Talbert said. “We all struggle with it, and I hate the fact that she didn’t get out of it.”
“Love shouldn’t hurt, and nobody should ever be lost to that,” Talbert added.
UMass held a vigil for Emma at the Campus Center on 05/05/2026 (Dylan Podlinski)
By talking about Emma through the different stories of people’s lives, people are able to “maintain [a] bond with those who have passed and helps ensure their memory lives on,” Zuñiga said. “When faced with loss, storytelling can help process our grief and build a sense of community.”
“It was an honor to attend today’s memorial service for Emma,” Maura Healey’s Press Secretary, Jacqueline Manning, sent in an email statement to the Collegian. “You heard the stories clear as day from those who loved her most — Emma was full of love and light. She will be remembered as a devoted mom, a cherished friend and a proud member of the UMass community. Our hearts are with her family and friends and the UMass community during this difficult time.”
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of domestic violence occurring in romantic partnerships. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Justice, over 4,300 women were killed in homicides in the United States in 2023, 36% of whom were killed by current or former intimate partners.
A previous vigil was organized and held by campus unions, including University Staff Association (USA), Professional Staff Union (PSU) and Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) on April 29.
A mass was held at the UMass Newman Catholic Center in honor of Emma’s soul at 5:30 p.m.
UMass held a vigil for Emma at the Campus Center on 05/05/2026
(Dylan Podlinski)
Kalina Kornacki can be reached at [email protected]. Alexandra Rowe can be reached at [email protected].
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic partner violence, resources can be found below:
The Center for Women and Community (CWC) at UMass Amherst: umass.edu/student-life/women-center, 413-545-0800
Safe Passage (Northampton, MA): safepass.org, 413-586-5066
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
