Scores mourn beloved teacher, friend

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

Hundreds of mourners came to St. Augustine Church in Andover Sunday for the wake of Colleen Ritzer, the Danvers High School rteacher killed last week.

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

Mourners embraced Sunday after leaving the wake.

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

Ritzer’s former college roommates Natalie Geeza, Jennifer Roberge, and Caroline Rufo held hands before they spoke to the media.

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

High school students, college classmates, and family friends had visited the church throughout the afternoon to say goodbye.

Laura Fogarty

Laura Fogarty, Ritzer’s preschool teacher, with Ritzer, who was the flower girl in her wedding as a child.

Laura Fogarty

Fogarty met Ritzer in 1990, when the future teacher was a 15-month-old toddler carrying a green blanket.

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

Students from Danvers High waited after arriving on school buses to pay respects to the effervescent math teacher.

Jessica Rinaldi for the Boston Globe

About 10 buses were parked outside the church, and mourners waited in line to pay their respects.