Family, friends and neighbours gathered Tuesday to remember three young children who died following a devastating house fire in Lower Sackville, N.S., last week.
The funeral for five-year-old Cayson Jermaine Loppie, his nine-year-old sister Alauna Marie Loppie, and their cousin, six-year-old Chloe Margaret Greenough-Steiger, was held at the Rock Church Halifax in Lower Sackville Tuesday afternoon.
The ceremony started with a prayer for the three children, followed by songs and memories shared by loved ones, including two of their teachers.
“Chloe, she was as bright as that big bright coat she wore outside. She was brimming, brimming with love. Everyone who knew Chloe was touched by Chloe. Every teacher from Grade 5 down,” said a teacher who taught both Chloe and Cayson.
“She would be running through the halls just wanting to talk to everyone and hug.”
The teacher described Cayson as a caring and loving superhero.
“He’d help all his friends but yet, you’d turn around and he’d be on top of them,” she said, prompting some giggles and cutting through the sadness in the room.
“His kindness and his love just extended throughout the class. Everyone loved him. Everyone loved playing with him.”
Alauna’s teacher described the nine-year-old as a “ray of sunshine.”
“I always loved seeing her every day. She always had a big smile on her face. She was an amazing friend,” said the teacher.
“She was amazing, and I had the pleasure of teaching her and I just feel lucky … They were all amazing kids and we will miss them greatly at Cavalier (Drive School).”
Chloe’s godmother, Tammy, shared stories of the six-year-old before reading a poem she wrote.
“These children were so loved … I came into Chloe’s life before she was born. I knew her mom and dad … Chloe just lit up my heart. She had a beautiful smile, beautiful eyes and she just loved everyone around her,” said Tammy.
“I just can’t believe that I’m going to watch her grow from memory.”
The children’s older sister, Akaysia, shared memories of her siblings and cousin, who had been living with the family for two years.
She spoke of her excitement when she found out Tanya Steiger was pregnant with Alauna, Cayson’s love of action figures and showing off all his new ones, and of the bond she quickly grew with Chloe.
“I never thought I would ever have to say goodbye to my baby sisters and brother. These past days I’ve been thinking about all the good times I’ve had with them,” said Akaysia.
“I love these kids so much and I hate that this happened. It’s not fair. It’s the hardest thing to lose a sibling, especially when you lost three. But as long as I have my family, I can get through this.”
Alauna and Cayson’s cousin recounted her bond with the children, before speaking directly to their parents, Tanya and Jermaine Loppie.
“Tanya and Jermaine, I’m sorry for your loss. It hurts me to see you like this. A lot of my childhood memories have you in them. I’d even go as far to say that you’re more like a second pair of parents to me than an aunt and uncle. I love you both so much and I couldn’t be myself if it wasn’t for you.”
The fire broke out in the Steiger-Loppie family’s duplex on Riverside Drive around 3:10 a.m. on Jan. 11. Tanya managed to escape with her two-year-old daughter, Maria. Jermaine was placed in a medically-induced coma and released from hospital on Thursday.
A GoFundMe page has raised more than $140,000 for the Steiger-Loppie family.
Many Halifax-area businesses have also launched their own fundraising campaigns.
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