WATCH: Hillary Clinton Honor Edie Windsor's Life

In front of Edie Windsor's beloved friends and family -- including her widow, Judith Kasen -- presidential candidate/former secretary of State Hillary Clinton helped memorialize the activist's life.

Windsor, who died Tuesday at the age of 88, was the plaintiff who brought down the Defense of Marriage Act and paved the way for national marriage equality. A memorial service took place Friday at New York City's Temple Emanu-El synagogue, where Clinton delivered a memorable speech.

More joyous and rousing than somber and dark, Clinton's speech included Windsor's accomplishments as a working woman and, later, as an activist fighting to honor her first wife, Thea Spyer.

"It is fitting that she will be immortalized in history books in that landmark decision synonymous with equal rights and dignity under the law. But she didn't stop there. She continued to support the needs and the rights of the LGBT community. She helped change hearts and minds, including mine. And we are forever grateful to her for that."

Clinton encouraged the audience to follow Windsor's lead as a trailblazer. "It's easy to grow weary fighting these fights, but remember Edie Windsor took on and won against the U.S. government." Watch below, via Slate.