The Fuquay-Varina High School graduate's body was found in a Florida retention pond last month.
Pelletier's stepfather, Jeremy Brown, said it's been hard for the family the past month without Gio.
"It's been hard being home without him," he said. "It's been hard knowing no more new memories with him."
Giovanni was visiting family when he was first reported missing. His mom, Bridgette, told ABC11 her son connected with paternal cousins the day he went missing.
The cousins told Bridgette her son started acting erratically, and then got out of their car on the side of the road. A week later, a family friend found Pelletier's body in a retention pond.
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The outpouring of love at Saturday's vigil is a welcome sign as the family waits for answers about what happened to their beloved Gio.
"It's good to know how loved someone is in their community and how much of an impact one person can make on a huge community," said Pelletier's cousin, Morgan Hull. "It's powerful."
"The support from the family, the support from the friends has been part of the highs, and it's kept some of those lows from being so low," said Brown.
But amidst tears, friends and family shared fond memories of the teen.
"What he would do that would always make me happy had to be including me or going in competition because whenever we would talk, we're like, 'I love you.' And then he's like, 'I love you more, period,'" said Pelletier's brother, Elijah Anderson.
Kailani Anderson, one of Pelletier's younger siblings, shared a message for their brother.
"I love you and I hope you're in a better place right now," said Anderson.
The cause and manner of Pelletier's death are still under investigation at this time. Family and friends are holding a celebration of life mass in Apex on Sunday.