Memorial vigil held for Roxanne Bonnoni of Natrona instead of her 12th birthday party

A birthday celebration for a young Harrison girl Wednesday night featured typical things one might expect to see.

There were balloons, lit candles, stuffed animals and the traditional sing-along.

However, the mood was vastly different, and the observance went on without its guest of honor.

Roxanne Bonnoni was killed by a vehicle Aug. 20 near her home along North Canal Street. She would have turned 12 on Wednesday.

Friends and family marked the occasion with a vigil in a field just across from Roxanne’s house in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood.

Candles were not on a cake, but in the hands of dozens of attendees, several of whom launched Chinese lanterns into the sky.

“I know she would love this,” said Amber Bonnoni, Roxanne’s mother. “She would love all the support. She was really kind and caring.”

Payton Hursh, 15, was one of the vigil’s attendees. She coached Roxanne in various sports as part of Fun and Freedom, a nonprofit Christian-based program founded by the late Allegheny Valley School District coach Deeni Riddle.

“She was a very fun and athletic girl and liked to make new friends,” Payton said. “I completely broke down (when I heard she was killed). I collapsed into my brother’s arms and broke down crying. I did a prayer for her. It was a lot of different emotions going through my head at once.”

Payton said seeing a lot of people at the vigil brings some comfort in knowing Roxanne made an impact during her short life.

“As you can see, Roxy made a very big impact on everyone’s heart,” Payton said. “She was a very special little girl.”

The vigil was spearheaded by Roxanne’s aunt, Heather Bonnoni, who flew in from Phoenix to be with her family. She said it was important to celebrate her niece’s birthday, and Halloween was the girl’s favorite holiday.

“With me living in Arizona, it was hard to be there for my sister, so I just planned this for her birthday,” Heather Bonnoni said. “I feel sad that she’s gone. I feel bad for my sister, still.”

Balloons included a pink one that said, “Princess.” Others had the message “You’re the best.”

The latter was something Roxanne would often tell people, according to her aunt.

Heather Bonnoni said she thinks about the family trips and all the good times spent with Roxanne.

“I miss my beautiful princess,” Amber Bonnoni said in an email to TribLive. “The day my child died, I became somebody new, a totally different person. I cry more than ever and break down quite a lot. My heart hurts more and more each day.”

Allegheny County Police have not released the name of the driver, who remained at the scene after the crash.

County police led the investigation but said their report and evidence was turned over to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office in September.

No charges have been filed.

Amber Bonnoni said the family is frustrated the DA’s office has not released more information. She said someone from the family checks in with investigators daily.

“I want the best for Roxanne,” she said. “I miss her. I’ll never be the same. My life is not the same. It won’t ever be the same. It’s really hard. … I’ll never forget that face for the rest of my life.”

Bonnoni thanked everyone for their support.