Memorial held for Esme Barrera

AUSTIN (KXAN) - "I'll be right here."

Those four words were printed on a memorial booklet for Esme Barrera, 29, and handed out to more than 400 people who attended a private memorial in her honor at Fiesta Gardens in East Austin Sunday. The music mentor was slain in her King Street rental home New Year's Day .  Her killer is still on the loose.

Barrera was laid to rest last Tuesday in her native El Paso .  Those who could not make the eight hour drive came out Sunday.

"We just came together to celebrate her life and brought all of the aspects of her life together," said Esme's best friend Linda Grey.

Co-workers from Casis Elementary where Esme worked along with music mentors from Girls Rock Camp turned out for the ceremony.  Musicians from the camp took to the stage and played the song "She's Like a Rainbow" by the Rolling Stones--it was one of Esme's favorite songs.

"Music was definitely a big part of her life and so we wanted it to be a part of this," Grey added.

Media was not allowed inside the memorial where friends told stories and shared memories about Esme for two hours.  Her co-worker at Waterloo Records, Patrick Floyd, officiated the ceremony.

"You could be come as close with her in five minutes as maybe you could with someone in five years," explained Floyd. 

Both Floyd and Grey told KXAN not one part of the memorial focused on the circumstances of Esme's death. Those in attendance wanted to focus on her life and positive things.

Those who took a memorial pamphlet home found a picture of Esme along with a note inside stating:

"On January 1, 2012, the world lost a precious sister, daughter, friend, mentor, and lover of all kids. Her passion for music was infectious and she was the life of every party fortunate to have her.  Esme's joy and enthusiasm for life remains in all those privileged to have spent any amount of time with her. While it is impossible to pick a trait that was her most shining, as a friend she was the very best, always putting others' feelings before her own.  Her loss is immeasurable as is her impact on all those she so dearly loved. She lives on in our hearts and in every hug and 'I love you' shared between friends and family."

The memorial ended shortly after 5 p.m., but another benefit for Esme's family is under way at Frontier Bar in East Austin .

Twelve bands volunteered to play at the bar to help raise money to either give to Esme's family to help pay for her funeral or to start a scholarship fund at Girls Rock Camp in her honor.

The cover fee is $7 and the benefit will go until 2 a.m.

Stephanie Bergara, a mutual friend of Esme, organized the event and hopes at least 200 people turn out.

"Anytime this happens to someone in the creative community, it puts a knife right in your heart," said Bergara.

Bergara turned to social media to get word out about the benefit .  Others in the community have turned to social media to vent their frustrations over her death and how Austin Police Department is handling the investigation.