MONTREAL — Friends and family of a 15-year-old girl who killed herself after being apparently bullied by classmates gathered in Granby, Que. today for her funeral.

Marjorie Raymond took her own life on Nov. 28 in the tiny town of Ste-Anne-des-Monts, Que.

She told her mother in a suicide note that she couldn't endure the physical and psychological abuse any longer.

Meanwhile a group in Montreal held an anti-bullying rally in an East End park.

The rally was organized by a local mother whose own son was also bullied at school.

It had already been planned before organizers learned of Raymond's suicide.

Organizer Isabelle Marchand said they decided to dedicate the rally to her memory.

"We need to raise awareness about this issue together," she said.

"I've organized this rally along with my son but we can't change things alone."

Marchand said it's crucial that teachers and school administrators work with parents to eliminate bullying.

Raymond's death has sparked outrage in Quebec and fuelled debate across the country about how to deal with the problem.

Her mother Chantal Larose has called for tougher laws to discourage bullying.

The recent suicide of 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, a boy who was targeted as an openly gay student at his Ottawa school, also touched a nerve.

Hubley's death helped drive the Ontario government to introduce new anti-bullying legislation.