Eighteen-year-old Torry McIntyre is described in her obituary as an “amazing and vibrant young woman.”
The Grade 12 Lively District Secondary School student was amongst four teens who died in a car crash on Highway 69 Jan. 3.
The crash also claimed the lives of 19-year-old Jessica Chamberland of Barrie, 17-year-old Alyssa McKeown of Barrie and 19-year-old Cole Howard of Sudbury.
MacIntyre's obituary said she will be remembered for her love and compassion for her family and animals.
“Her passion for the arts will forever be reflected in the work she leaves with us,” the obituary said.
She is survived by her mom, Jennifer Saile and dad, Stephen Saile, along with her siblings, Cody McIntyre and Karly Saile.
The family is receiving friends at Hillside Funeral Services in North Bay Jan. 7 from 7-9 p.m. A celebration of her life will take place at Lakeshore Missionary Church in North Bay at 2 p.m. Jan. 8.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to a charity of choice.
A trauma team will be at Lively District Secondary School to support students and staff when school resumes after the holidays Jan. 9, according to Leslie Mantle, principal of Lively District Secondary School. She said the team may stay longer, depending on the needs of students.
“It's a great tragedy,” Mantle said. “We're just trying to put the pieces back together.”
She said students, friends and teachers alike will miss McIntyre, “a very vibrant, artistic and creative” girl.
Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Bradley graduated from Lively District Secondary School in June 2010 — he and 14-year-old Connor Kennedy remain in the hospital in critical condition. They were in the same vehicle as McIntyre and Cole Howard.
Howard's obituary said he is survived by his parents, James and Terry-Anne Howard, and his siblings, Conor and Mason.
Visitation will take place at the Jackson & Bernard Funeral Home from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Jan. 6 and after 12 p.m. Jan. 7. A funeral service will be held Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Jackson & Bernard Funeral Home.
The family is asking for donations to the Cole Howard Bursary Fund.
Marty DePietro, a friend of Howard's, described him as “a very genuine person.”
“He cared a lot about his friends (and) he cared about his music,” DePietro stated. “He was into music as much as he could. (In his) spare time, he liked to hang out with his bandmates and good buddies, play drums and smoke cigarettes.
“I always had a good time hanging out with him,” DePietro said.
On Feb. 11, DePietro is hosting a memorial metal show in Howard's honour, will all funds going to his family.
A collision which occurred the same day on Highway 17 near Hagar claimed the lives of three other teens — 19-year-old Hillary Afelski of Adamaston-Bromerly Township, 18-year-old Keegan Melville of Horton Township and 19-year-old Zabrina Rekowski of Renfrew.
The Highway 17 crash victims were students at Laurentian University, according to local media reports.
Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux said on his Facebook page Jan. 4 that university officials are contacting the students' families to offer their condolences.
“In addition, counselling services are available to all students through the University’s Health and Counselling Services office,” Giroux said, in the statement.
“Counselling may be accessed at 705-675-1151 ext. 6506 or ext. 1030. The university extends its profound sympathies to all members of the Laurentian family who are touched by these tragic events.”
Denis Mayer, vice-president of Student Affairs at Laurentian, said the students immediately around the victims of the crash have all been seen by staff counsellors. About 50 students attended a group session in the West Residence —officials are attempting to put together a similar session in Thorneloe tonight, Jan. 5.
“We try to support our students by giving them opportunities to verbalize their feelings,” Mayer said.
“A lot of students are shaken up by this news and saddened.”
The school is looking into providing transportation to student's interested in attending the funeral's of the three victims.
Posted by Arron Pickard
