Members of the Nanoose First Nation on Vancouver Island filled a local gymnasium Sunday to mourn two boys killed in a house fire last week.
Jordan Drake, 9, and Devon Drake, 7, were killed when a fire broke out in a home on Qil-Xe-Mait Road early Wednesday morning, destroying the house and two vehicles in the yard.
Two adults and their two boys, aged five and seven, managed to escape the house.
The Drake brothers were cousins of the family that lived in the home, and relatives say they sought refuge in the house when their own home lost power in a storm.
There was standing room only as friends and relatives gathered to mourn the deaths and celebrate the lives of Devon and Jordan.
"I'm not sure how to wrap my head around it," said Sheena Edwards, the boys' aunt.
"My nephew Devon would just always out of nowhere say ,'Auntie, I love you.' And my nephew Jordan never said much. He always just hugged me, was really kind of quiet and shy around me. I just can't believe they're gone."
The Nanoose First Nation is a small community, where virtually everyone knew the boys and their family.
"Our community, of course, is still very heavy-hearted. We had gone out to see some of the family yesterday and they're still in shock and it will take them some time to heal," said band councillor Natasha Bob.
Many of the firefighters who helped fight the blaze attended the funeral, which ended with a lengthy procession and police escort.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made to accounts at CIBC and the Bank of Montreal.
There are no comments yet