Dozens of people are celebrating the life of a Boardman man gone too soon.

Fifty-five-year-old Raymond Lanzo lost his battle with the coronavirus recently.

He was a nurse at a health facility in Liberty Township. 

Friends and family members were emotional as they hosted a surprise vigil for Lanzo and his family.

Paper bags with handwritten messages on them and candles lit up the home where Raymond's wife Debbie lives with their son.

"Oh his smile, definitely such a happy, wonderful, jovial guy," said friend Debbie Passerotti. "Very funny and so well-liked. Everybody loved him."

As family members watched from the porch, one after another continued to show up placing a light on the driveway.

They said it's the least they can do during this tough time.

"Just always there for his kids, always there for his community, his friends, his family," said Jeff Overly, another friend. "He's from a very large family from Campbell, just a super, superhuman being. Our love is just going out to his wife Debbie, who is a remarkably strong woman. This is a great thing we are doing for them, and hopefully, give them a little peace."

According to friends, Lanzo had just finished nursing school not too long ago, a stark reminder of the tragic losses so many are experiencing because of the coronavirus.

The family has dealt with many hardships in recent years. 

Lanzo's other son, 23-year-old Ryan Lanzo, was killed in a car crash in 2017.

The driver in the crash is charged with vehicular homicide and OVI.