Annie Le's fiance, hundreds mourn at LI memorial

A memorial service marking the life of murdered Yale grad student Annie Le attracted hundreds of mourners Wednesday to the Huntington synagogue where her fiance's family worshipped.

There, friends and family of Le and her fiance, Jonathan Widawsky, remembered the 24-year-old as an intensely loving and giving woman, who often remarked how lucky she was to be marrying her best friend.

Le's was "a life cut too short," Janet Widawsky, Jonathan's mother, told the gathering.

PHOTOS: Widawsky family, hundreds mourn Annie Le at LI memorial

Jonathan's sister Lauren Widawsky addressed the spirit of Le directly, making her remarks through tears. "We have many long days ahead and I pray my brother can recover from your loss," Lauren Widawsky said. "You did not deserve this."

The body of Le, a Yale graduate student in pharmacology, was found hidden behind a wall in the lab building where she did animal research. Authorities made the discovery on the day she was to be married on Long Island. A lab technician, Raymond Clark, has been charged in her slaying.

Le's closest friends remembered her as a serious student who loved shopping and shoes, and was happy to make fun of herself and her tiny, high voice.

The service, which began at 7 p.m. and lasted just over an hour, was punctuated by sniffles and muted signs of grief from the mourners.

Mary Hall, a Beth El congregant, said her family came to show support for the Widawsky family. Their children attended religious school together, Hall said, recalling how the children would sing the Hebrew song "Avenu Malkenu" together.

Referring to Le's grisly slaying, Hall said: "I'm shocked. It's the cruelest, most evil thing."

Jonathan Widawsky sat with his family, but did not speak publicly.

The service at Temple Beth El, officiated by the synagogue's rabbi, Jeff Clopper, began with a choir singing "Eili Eili," one of Le's favorite Hebrew songs. The rabbi pointed out that it was written decades ago by a young woman who had died tragically at age 23.

"Oh God, we pray to have the strength to make it through this time of grief and sorrow," Clopper said.

Cantor Sandra Sherry, who was to have officiated at the couple's wedding in Syosset on Sept. 13, described meeting with the eager couple to plan the ceremony. "Annie said about Jon, and I quote, 'I never felt this depth of love for anything or anyone. I want to make him happy all the time,' " Sherry said.

Then she addressed Jonathan: "May the memory of Annie Marie Le and who she was help to bring you some semblance of peace in this imperfect world."

PHOTOS: Widawsky family, hundreds mourn Annie Le at LI memorial

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Yale student Annie Le found murdered