Family members of the Saskatoon nurse murdered 50 years ago say the tears of her loss remain vivid, but so do the happy memories of her life.

Among those at a planned candlelight memorial for Alexandra Wiwcharuk tonight will be her niece, Lorraine Phillips.

"She was happy. She was go-lucky ... she was a really good auntie," Phillips told CBC News.

This hand-tinted portait was given as a gift from Alexandra Wiwcharuk to her parents. (Wiwcharuk family )

The 23-year-old had gone out to mail letters on May 18, 1962, and was never seen alive again. Her body was found nearly two weeks later in a shallow grave on the riverbank.

"When the call came, my mom screamed and dropped the phone and cried and cried," Phillips said. "Nothing was the same after that."

Wiwcharuk's killer has never been found.

To mark the anniversary, family, friends and followers of the story plan to gather for a candlelight walk along the Saskatoon riverbank.

Nurses who graduated with Wiwcharuk are expected to be among the crowd, including some wearing their original uniforms, complete with capes and caps.

They'll meet at the intersection of 33rd Street and Spadina — close to where she was last seen on that day 50 years ago and not far from where her body was found.

On Saturday, there will be a church service followed by a blessing at the gravesite.

The Wiwcharuk murder shocked and fascinated the residents of the city — for its brutality and randomness and the fact it was never solved. It's been the subject of documentaries, books and cold case investigations.

Phillips and Wiwcharuk's other three nieces continue to keep the murder in the public eye.

They say there has been considerable progress on the investigation in recent years and they are confident the police will soon solve the case.