Thousands of people are celebrating the life and poignant bucket list of a Connecticut teen who was struck and killed by a car earlier this month.

Rebecca Townsend's family says she died completing the last item on her bucket list, which was to save a life.

Police say the 17-year-old from Brookfield was struck and killed by a car while she was walking on Lake Avenue in Danbury. Her family says right before that accident, she pushed her friend out of the way of the oncoming car.

Townsend had just graduated from Immaculate High School and was planning to attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.

Mourners say they are honoring their friend by being kind -- or paying it forward.

As they perform their random acts of kindness, they hand out memorial cards that carry Townsend's picture and story. They say it encourages others to continue paying it forward.

They've also turned to social media, sharing her story around the world. A Facebook page, "Remembering Rebecca," has received more than 24,000 likes.

On the page is Townsend's bucket list, which contains just three items: "Kiss in the rain, Fly to Spain, Save a life."