Seven-year-old ‘Christmas angel’ laid to rest
Posted Dec 15, 2009 05:19:28 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A young Cape Breton boy who died after getting lost in the woods earlier this month has been laid to rest.
People across Canada who prayed for a Christmas miracle while James Delorey was lost for two days mourned as hundreds gathered in Whitney Pier on Monday for his funeral.
Family, friends and many of those involved with the search for seven-year-old James gathered at Holy Redeemer Church for his funeral service.
His dog Chance was there as well after riding in the front seat of the hearse as it carried the coffin to the church.
Rescuers say the dog stayed with James during the two nights he was lost in cold, wintry weather after wandering away from his home.
Search parties found him, barely alive, and rushed him to hospital where he succumbed to severe hypothermia hours later.
Paul Vienneau, who was part of the search effort, attended Monday’s service. He says people may not have had the miracle they were hoping for, but something extraordinary happened.
“I believe there was a miracle, yes” he said. “There was a miracle, and then he became a Christmas angel.”
Vienneau said the funeral provided closure for him and many other search and rescue members who were in attendance.
Cape Breton Liberal MP Mark Eyking said it was a bittersweet occasion.
“It’s a sad, sad situation, but there was a lot of inspiration in there too from the priest’s words in how we all stick together here in Cape Breton,” he said. “And people from right across Canada, who poured their heart out for him. The emails were coming in from around the world on this one. It was just a powerful experience in there.”
Several musical pieces were played in James’ memory, including Silent Night and Come Home, by One Republic.
