Joan D'Alessandro Vigil Scheduled For Monday

Hillsdale will host a candlelight vigil next week in memory of Joan D'Alessandro, a 7-year-old girl who was murdered by a neighbor in 1973.

"This vigil will be to remember Joan," her younger brother, John D'Alessandro said. "To remember what the town went through and to thank the community."

The borough hosted a similar event in 1993 when Joan's mother, Rosemarie D'Alessandro, was working to pass Joan's Law, which eliminates the possibility of parole for those who murder young children.

Rosemarie D'Alessandro has spent years advocating for laws that protect children since Joan's death through the Joan's Joy Foundation.

The vigil has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in Veterans Memorial Park in the center of Hillsdale. The event will include speeches from police, lawmakers and other community members, as well as a performance from a band that wrote a song about Joan. 

Diners who eat at Cortina's, Domani or Chicken Delight that evening can request that a portion of their bill be donated to the foundation.

They will also be accepting donations for the foundation and a new butterfly garden being planned in Joan's memory, which will be located in the grassy area in front of the train station. The memorial will include flowers, a bench and a butterfly sculpture to both honor Joan and promote the D'Alessandro family's ongoing goal of child safety.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.