This summer, Rosedale and Bonar-Parkdale, both in Toronto, conducted widely publicized funerals for murdered youth. Oliver Martin, 25, one of two young men who were shot outside a friend's condominium, was buried from Rosedale while Katelynn Sampson, 7, was found in the home of her caregivers, just a few blocks from Bonar-Parkdale, where she was remembered.
"I've done funerals for children before and they're always difficult. But … this one was done because of murder and violence perpetuated against a child," said Rev. Harry Klassen who presided at Sampson's funeral.
Over 800 people attended each service. In accordance with the families' wishes, the media were barred from entering the churches, but the streets outside were awash with cameras.
A nearby funeral home hosted Sampson's visitation. As was widely reported, the girl's body still bore marks of abuse, but according to Klassen her emaciated state was more striking than the bruises.
"Katelynn's middle name was 'Angel' and I reminded people that in the scriptures that means 'messenger' and she had a message for us," said Klassen. That message was a call to end violence, drug abuse and child abuse, and it was widely quoted by Toronto newspapers. Klassen said he was glad that the message was disseminated, but his homily encompassed more than angels. He spoke about the kingdoms of life and death. "The part that they [the media] liked and wanted to stress was that Parkdale is a community where this is a problem that needs to be dealt with," he said.
Sampson's family was connected with Bonar-Parkdale through a "breakfast club" outreach program which her biological mother attended frequently.
Although Bonar-Parkdale is able to seat 1,000, at Rosedale measures were taken to accommodate attendees who overflowed the sanctuary. A large screen and two televisions assisted those inside the church, and a sound system provided audio for about 300 people who were forced to remain outside.
In accordance with the family's wishes, Martin's funeral did not seek to make a political statement, but was instead a time to celebrate the young man's life. "I made sure it was as inclusive a worship service as possible," said Bill MacLellan, minister at Rosedale, Toronto. It did not pass without misunderstandings.
"The family asked for What A Wonderful World (by Louis Armstrong) to be sung," MacLellan said. "So we put it out on the big church sign – What a Wonderful World – and we had many telephone calls asking that we remove it because it wasn't sensitive to the family."
Despite phone calls and concerns, the service concluded with the song in an original four-part harmony arranged by the music director. "That was his [Oliver's] favorite song," said MacLellan. "And the family didn't want to take it away from him."
Police investigations are ongoing in both murder cases.
