Approximately 200 people gathered at Willows Beach Dec. 26 to reflect on Chloe and Aubrey Berry.
The Oak Bay sisters were discovered dead in their fatherB次元官网网址檚 apartment Christmas Day 2017.
Most were there to take part in a commemorative sing-along of This Little Light of Mine, which was led by ChloeB次元官网网址檚 music teacher from Christ Church Cathedral.
B次元官网网址淓verybody in the crowd was holding lights of some sort, and there were lots of children there which was really lovely,B次元官网网址� Oak Bay Coun. Hazel Braithwaite said. B次元官网网址淪arah was actually there, the mom, and she went up at the end of the song and placed some lights at the tree, then other people just followed and started [placing] lights around the tree and it was really beautiful.B次元官网网址�
Braithwaite was inspired to set up a around a tree near the Willows Beach playground after seeing residents discussing ways to reflect on the tragedy in a local Facebook group.
A friend of Sarah Cotton, Chloe and AubreyB次元官网网址檚 mother, suggested singing This Little Light of Mine on Christmas, an idea Cotton loved.
READ MORE:
At the time, Cotton said she B次元官网网址渨ould much rather focus on the girlsB次元官网网址� brightness and light rather than the negativity of it all this Christmas.B次元官网网址� She hoped singing the song would add a little positivity to everyoneB次元官网网址檚 Christmas.
B次元官网网址淓veryone wanted to give to Sarah, and Sarah was very giving of herself and saying B次元官网网址榟elloB次元官网网址� to people and hugging, which I think really meant a lot to everyone as well. And probably really meant a lot to her to be able to see the people who had come out to honour the girls,B次元官网网址� Braithwaite said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really heartwarming I think that people will remember and take the time to come out and honour the lives of the girls in that way.B次元官网网址�
The memorial at Willows Beach will remain in place until Dec. 30. Afterward, all the notes and mementos will be gathered up and given to Cotton.
Going forward, Braithwaite hopes this will always be a time where residents will want to join together.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always struck by the strength of Sarah. She is a pretty amazing human being to have gone through something like what she has gone through, and yet to be so kind and generous to everyone around her who needs to have that moment with her. For her to be able to be there and let people hug her and give them a kind word, and listen to what they have to say B次元官网网址� that takes a pretty amazing kind of person,B次元官网网址� Braithwaite said. B次元官网网址淵ou often think if you put yourself in the same situation could you be as stoic and as kind and generous as she is? IB次元官网网址檓 not sure if I could.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
