Jephthe Chery should have been preparing to celebrate his 31st birthday this weekend. And maybe in the past year, he might have achieved his dream of becoming a locomotive engineer.

But his life was cut short early on Thanksgiving last year — a day before his birthday — in a hail of gunfire outside a popular bar near Fenway Park. He was struck by a bullet intended for someone else.

The past year has been hard for his mother, Rose Chery, and her family. The pain sparked by his death has not fully eased, evenwith the passage of time. Sometimes, Chery forgets to eat for the day and has to push herself to get up and get going.

“It’s like they just took my heart,’’ Chery said, her voice weary.

Following her son’s death, Chery joined support groups and started therapy once a week. Each day is an attempt at healing. She hopes to find comfort from family and friends as they plan a weekend of events to commemorate her son’s life. Chery said she wants “to make people remember him.’’

On Saturday, family and friends plan to gather outside of Who’s On First, the bar where Jephthe Chery was slain. They will hold candles and photos of him. The troublesome bar was closed after the shooting. Three others were injured but survived. (A 26-year-old man was charged in connection with the shooting.)

On Sunday, what would have been Chery’s birthday, a memorial service is scheduled in Canton.

Thanksgiving Day was spent with her beloved son at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, where she laid a single flower on his grave.

“I used to have my son with me, and he brought happiness in my family,’’ Chery said. “I don’t want people to forget him.’’