By Charles W. Kim and Nicole Wells, Packet Media Group
LAMBERTVILLE — The biting cold and chilling winds did little to dampen the spirit of camaraderie that lit up the night sky at a candlelight vigil remembering bartender and city resident Sarah Majoras.
Between 200 to 300 people endured frigid temperatures, standing shoulder to shoulder in the parking lot of the Lambertville Station restaurant, to celebrate the life of Ms. Majoras, 39, who died in the Delaware and Raritan Canal last week.
”Someone incredibly special left our community this week,” said Joe Ujj, 44, during the approximately hour-long event to honor his longtime friend. “I loved Sarah; you loved Sarah. I’m sure in her wildest dreams she never would have imagined she could personally be responsible for bringing a whole community together like this.”
Ms. Majoras’ body was recovered from the icy waters of the canal by police around 5 p.m. Jan. 30, some four days after she was reported missing.
In a Jan. 31 statement, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III and Lambertville Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said a preliminary autopsy showed no signs of foul play, and the death was a “tragic accident.”
Ms. Majoras, a bartender at John & Peter’s bar in New Hope, Pennsylvania, for 15 years, was returning home around 2 a.m. from an evening at the bar with friends Jan. 26, according to police.
As was her custom, she walked from the bar back to Lambertville, crossing the mile-long bridge over the Delaware River, bound for the apartment on North Union Street she shared with her boyfriend of 12 years, Adam Baker.
Video surveillance footage showed her safely crossing the bridge, then turning left onto Lambert Lane in the City. According to police, that is the last image of her alive.
Hundreds of people volunteered to help search for the “beloved” bartender and friend during the next four days until her body was discovered in the canal Wednesday.
Saturday’s vigil, comprised of around a dozen of her favorite songs, provided her many friends and people in the community a chance to come together, remember her and mourn as one.
”Sarah touched us all in many ways,” Mr. Ujj said. “Today, we’re here to pay her back for what she gave to all of us.”
In the days since her disappearance and death, Ms. Majoras’ family has said very little publicly. In a statement read to the crowd at the vigil by a family friend named “Tony,” her mother, Judy, thanked everyone for the outpouring of support and asked “that we all be kind of each other as the best way to honor Sarah’s memory.”
A luminous cloud hung low in the sky as those gathered raised their candles to honor Ms. Majoras. Some were friends who went to Southern Hunterdon Regional High School where she graduated in 1991, and others were just acquaintances who met her when they stopped into John & Peter’s.
”I grew up here. She is probably the bartender that served me the most,” city resident Becky Easton, 32, said, as the music of the memorial vigil played in the background. “I had to come out to pay (her) tribute.”
Ms. Easton said she felt the choice of music was “perfectly appropriate,” and the eclectic mix of songs represented Sarah’s personality.
”You can understand who she was (by) listening to the music,” younger sister Kelly Easton, 21, said. “You feel closer to her.”
Both Eastons said Ms. Majoras always will be remembered for her welcoming nature.
”She was always smiling,” Kelly Easton said. “It is sad when this happens in a community, but she will always leave a lasting impression on us.”
Kelly Easton said the City of Lambertville is like a family and, like any family, its members worry when something happens to one of their own.
”We’re a family so when something happens to part of our family you’re going to react as anyone would react to something happening to your family,” Kelly Easton said.
Fellow South alumnus Andrew Rose, 38, said he knew Ms. Majoras in high school where he was a grade below her.
”All of us were very close back then,” Mr. Rose said. “Tuesday nights, we would hang out with Sarah at the bar.”
Mr. Rose said many of the friendships forged in school had become a bit distant as people grew older, and it should not take a tragedy like this to bring the old friends back together.
”Don’t forget this,” Mr. Rose said. “Don’t forget everyone here. Don’t forget each other.”
Mr. Rose also said he felt Ms. Majoras would have a hard time believing the impact her life had on the community and the love shown by so many people during the search for her.
”She would be overwhelmed, I’m sure,” Mr. Rose said.
Joe Rose, 40, Andrew’s older brother, said Ms. Majoras always would be remembered for her smile.
”She was beautiful and modest,” Joe Rose said. “On her worst day, she would smile at you.”
While police are calling the death an accident, Mr. Kearns said his office “remains open” to all possibilities, and he will await toxicology reports from the Medical Examiner before making a final determination.
The office also is asking anyone who might have information on the case to call 908-284-6162.

