Nicolina Trifunovski has a strong childhood memory of her aunt, Snezana.

"She would look at me, and even with the barrier in language, you could still feel the warmth that came from her," Nicolina said. "I remember her ... giving us hugs and everything, and just looking at us with that motherly affection."

Snezana, originally from Macedonia, was a caregiver at Syracuse Home for more than 20 years. Earlier this month, though, her coworkers called 911 when Snezana didn't show up for work. While authorities were interviewing her husband, he admitted to being responsible for her death, and that he'd put her body in a storage facility.

Her husband, Pande "Pete" Trifunovski, is facing charges of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in her death. According to the Onondaga County Sheriff's office, Pete admitted to ultimately causing her death, saying during an interview that it started as a verbal argument, then became a physical fight, during which he said he beat her to death. 

The sheriff's office said police had responded to domestic abuse incidents at the Trifunovski home in the past. Nicolina said she hadn't seen her aunt in recent years, but that family members knew there was trouble and tried to intervene.

"It's uncomfortable ... being this face, speaking out about this tragedy, but if there's any possibility that we can take this story and we can help at least one person, woman, man -- it doesn't matter, child," Nicolina said, "victim or abused, if we can help one person get the help that they need, that's what's giving me the strength."

Vera House is one resource in Central New York that offers counseling services. Prevention Education Program Administrator Brittany Pryor says the house has a 24-hour crisis and support line at 315-468-3260.

There are also resources for perpetrators, including the Alternatives Program. Many are obligated to participate through the court system, but Alternatives Program Coordinator Desiree Williams-Harrell says it does have some volunteers.

"I think at any given time, we may have [more than] 200 men enrolled in a program," Williams-Harrell said. "Maybe one may voluntarily come in and say 'I want to change my life; things are going downhill.' "

Nicolina hopes her family's story will encourage others to seek help.

"It's not just asking for a victim to be strong and brave and have courage," she said. "It's asking the abuser to be the same way, because this is not normal. Abuse, this is not normal."