TURNERS FALLS — In 1987, 31-year-old Vivian A. Morrissey was fatally strangled by her ex-boyfriend in her Turners Falls home, leaving her two daughters, who have no memory of her because they were a 3-year-old and a 1½-year-old at the time, motherless.

Recently, Morrissey’s niece, who does remember her, came up with the idea to have a fundraiser for the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), a Greenfield-based social service agency that provides sexual and domestic violence crisis services for Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, including a hotline at 413-772-0806.

“If NELCWIT had existed when Vivian was alive, it might have helped her get out of the relationship safely,” her sister Gail Blais said. “Vivian was amazing. She loved everyone, loved life, was full of fun. When she died, a light went out.”

Though her daughter Erin Lajoie doesn’t remember Morrissey, she said she’s been told “things disintegrated so quickly” in Morrissey’s relationship with Gregory Martino, who was from Greenfield and was convicted in 1989 of killing her. Martino died in prison in 2021.

“She was dating him less than a year when she was killed,” Lajoie said. “NELCWIT is there to help people in these types of situations. They can go from being pushed to violence so quickly. We really want people to be aware of what NELCWIT does and support the organization.”

On Friday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. both days, Lajoie and others will take the stage at the Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts on Industrial Boulevard in Turners Falls for a tribute show to Morrissey that will raise money for NELCWIT. The show is called “Resilience Rising: A Fundraiser for NELCWIT.”

Lajoie said it will be a revue show, with songs from a lot of different places, including musicals and pop songs. First responders, young professionals, those who perform regularly in Ja’Duke shows and members of the broader community will participate.

“We wanted to bring people together to get involved and raise money for an important cause together,” Blais said. “Erin will be performing in the show.”

Lajoie said she developed a love for theater years ago, just like her mother did a few years before she died.

“There’s going to be a tribute table there and a note in the program so that people know the show is dedicated to her,” Lajoie said. “She would have loved that I’m now involved in theater.”

NELCWIT is very close to both Lajoie’s and Blais’ hearts. It was Blais’ daughter, Sarah, who came up with the idea for the tribute show.

“We’re just all so happy NELCWIT is here now to help women like Vivian. I wish she had had something like the agency to help her,” Blais said. “NELCWIT is so important.”

People can buy luminaries and purchase sponsorships at jaduketheater.com/shop. The luminaries will be featured on stage during the show.

To buy tickets in advance for “Resilience Rising: A Fundraiser for NELCWIT,” go to bit.ly/3waoS0L. General admission for adults is $15, while children ages 12 and under and senior citizens will be admitted for $12. There is also a $25 “All Star” option to provide an extra donation.

Anita Fritz, a former reporter and editor with the Greenfield Recorder, serves as a NELCWIT board member.