EDMONTON -About 1,000 people came together Friday evening, to say goodbye to a young St. Albert boy who died one week ago.
A public memorial was held for Thomas Wedman Friday evening at Edmonton’s North Pointe Community Church. Dozens of police officers and military were among those who gathered to remember and honour the six-year-old boy.
Thomas was struck and killed by a school bus while crossing the street near his school in St. Albert on September 27.
A number of people shared stories about Thomas Friday evening; the song Tears in Heaven was performed by a choir.
Thomas’ parents are thanking their church and community for their support, and remembering their son as ‘an angel’.
Thomas’ father Jeff told Global News that his little boy was laid to rest Thursday afternoon at the family church. (The family has shared the eulogy that was read with Global News. You can read it in full, below.)
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church was the church Jeff attended as a child, it was where Jeff and his wife Sheri were married, and it was where Thomas was baptized.
Jeff spoke about how their faith has been a source of comfort for the family during this time, and how much the support from the greater community has strengthened them.
“We have so many people to thank,” wrote Jeff in an email on Friday.
“I think Sheri, the boys and I have been able to get through the last week only because of all the help we have received. People keep saying we have shown so much strength this last week, but I don`t agree. There have been literally thousands of hands lifting us up and helping us to face each new day as it dawns. If it wasn`t for this help I can`t imagine where we would be today.
“From our family and friends who has been grieving with us, to all three Pastors who have been such a spiritual guide and source of comfort, the staff from both at both of our son`s school (École Marie Poduran and Richard Fowler Junior High), our workplaces (Edmonton Police Service for me and Concordia University for Sheri, she is taking her Education degree through them), and the community at large, everyone has played a part in helping us cope and keep our heads above water. Between the food that has been dropped off, the hundreds of hugs and tears we have shared with people, and the notes of condolences and support we have received, all these have given us courage and kept us grounded.
“It is so obvious that people are not going through the motions, Thomas literally touched this whole community and complete strangers are shedding tears of sadness with us.”
Thomas was a Grade 2 student at École Marie Poburan. He would have turned seven on October 14th.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made to the Human Organ Procurement and Exchange Program (HOPE). Donations can be made online.
Thomas’ heart valves were donated to the Alberta organ donor program. “It is hoped that the love and happiness he always had in his heart will follow to the recipients,” explained his family.
The Wedman family is also asking anyone who would like to share their memories of Thomas, to send them to memories_of_thomas@outlook.com.
“It is heartening for us to hear from all the different lives Thomas touched and brought happiness to. We want to collect all these stories to help us remember him as the joyful spirit he was.”
“Literally hours after the tragedy, notes of support started to come flooding to us through many avenues. Family, friends, and complete strangers shared with us letters of encouragement, their own personal sadness, and memories of Thomas. Although we haven’t yet had time to answer them all, we have read and gained strength from each and every single one. What follows is a small collection of the messages that spoke to how we were feeling at the time, provided us strength when we desperately needed it, and gave us insights into how Thomas had touched the lives of so many people,” Jeff explains.
The family shared the following video, which is a mix of messages the Wedmans have received this past week and home video of Thomas taken by the six-year-old himself. Jeff says his son saved up his allowance money to buy an iPod and loved making little videos of himself.
“These videos capture Thomas at his pure goofy, fun-loving, innocent self.”
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