Community gathers at vigil to mourn family found dead in Harrow

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Grieving Harrow-area residents tearfully offered flowers, gifts, and prayers in tribute to the deaths of a family of four, remembered as a “loving family unit,” during a candlelight vigil on Sunday.

“There are no words to say that can describe this tragedy to make anyone feel better,” said Lindsay DePano, a close friend of the mother of the family.

“We are incredibly thankful and touched by everyone and no words will ever be strong enough to express our gratitude.”

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Friends and family were joined by hundreds of people at the Harrow soccer fields for the vigil, which included a presentation of speeches and prayers.

Along the fence of the field’s front entrance, community members laid heartfelt notes, teddy bears, and flowers among other items to pay their respects.

“There’s so much love and support this community has for one another,” DePano said. “I know my amazing best friend and her beautiful babies would be so honoured and so proud.

“She would want this because she was our social butterfly — that’s all I can say. I loved her so much and I don’t know how to do this life without her.”

Police have not released the identity of the victims or details on the circumstances surrounding their deaths. 

OPP officers responded to a residence on County Road 13, also known as Erie Road in Harrow, around 1:30 p.m. Thursday (June 20) and found the bodies of a mother, father, and two young children. 

Investigators described it as a “sudden death investigation” and said there was no concern for public safety. 

“This little girl was one of the most beautiful girls inside and out,” said Landis Chartier, who developed a close relationship with the family after becoming a member of the Harrow Soccer Minor board of directors. “She was one of our favourite referees for soccer.”

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“As for the little guy, he was never afraid to show he cared with a random hug for those he loved. My husband and I told him often that we hoped our son would grow up to be just like him.”

The mother was described by friends as someone who could always be counted on.

“Her kids were proof of the loving family unit they were, despite the tragedy surrounding their deaths,” Chartier said. “The generosity that we’ve seen in the wake of their deaths is a testament to the pillar this family was in our small community.”

Treena Upcott, a co-organizer of Sunday’s vigil, told the Star the recent deaths of the family have rocked the community, noting how unusual it is for something like this to occur. 

“It’s one of those things you watch on TV and think that would never happen,” Upcott said. “To our little community, it has rocked it to the core.”

According to Upcott, the mother spent a lot of time at the soccer complex outside of her role with the minor soccer league.

She was known to walk the 1.2-kilometre track surrounding the field daily.

“She loved to walk the track,” Upcott said. “She would post screenshots of her walks that she used to do and how many calories she used to burn.”

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“If it wasn’t the track, it was up Erie Street or all down the trails. She was everywhere.”

Nearly every attendee at Sunday’s gathering lined the track with a candle, walking in memory of the family who had spent countless hours there.

Heather Horsburgh, a resident of Harrow for 32 years, stood by on the sidelines as droves of people walked along the track.

When asked why she decided to attend the event, Horsburgh said that her daughter served as a coach for one of the soccer teams.

“She had an association with the family through soccer,” Horsburgh told the Star. “The oldest child was an assistant referee, so she would referee games with my daughter.”

“We’re a small town and these were children,” said Horsburgh.

The Harrow Health Centre is offering free counselling to members of the community Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. 

“Everything today was made by donation from this community — from the coffee, the candy, the raffles and the shirts,  everything has been by donated,” said Victoria Cranston, one of three co-organizers who helped Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy host the event.

“We couldn’t have done any of this without those donations. We’re thankful to the community and everybody who has stepped up and stepped in to help us.”

Donations from Sunday’s vigil will go directly to the family to help subsidize the costs of funeral arrangements. 

mholmeshill@postmedia.com

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