Family, friends and co-workers gathered for the funeral of G4S employee Michelle Shegelski who was killed in the U of A shootings.
Her loved ones described the 26-year-old woman they fondly called “Mic” as a strong, courageous woman with a quirky sense of humour.
Originally from High Level, Michelle Shegelski moved to Edmonton to attend classes at the University of Alberta.
Shegelski started work at G4S as a security guard where she eventually became a trainer. That’s where she met her husband Victor Shegelski who delivered today’s eulogy.
She was a passionate reader, who would have several books on the go at a time.
She was also an avid writer.
Her brother and sister read excerpts from Michelle’s blog and the funeral program also quoted some of her blog entries.
In one, she wrote about hurrying to work for her night shift:
“I suffer through the old runoff, moving down the dimly lit stairway to receive a briefing from the last shift. They’re tired and want to go home. Hell, we all do. ‘The password’s changed. Don’t forget.’ I study it carefully before crumbling it into illegibility.”
“Security. It’s what we do.”
Her family spoke briefly to the media following today’s memorial.
“No words can express our heartfelt thank you to all the people who have sent communications expressing their condolences for our loss of the very beautiful vibrant young life that was our Michelle,” said her uncle John Ernst in a prepared statement.
“Our lives will be forever changed and so will the lives of the people that she touched. She will live on in our memories forever.”
Shegelski was fatally shot during an armed robbery inside the University of Alberta’s HUB mall. She was killed alongside two of her G4S colleagues just after midnight Friday June 15th.
The funerals for the two other G4S employees killed in the shootings were held earlier this week.
About 500 people attended a private memorial service in Edmonton on Sunday for all three victims.
The fourth victim, Matthew Schuman remains in hospital. His family issued a statement yesterday saying his condition is improving, but he is still working to regain motor skills.
With files from Jenna Bridges, Global News and Chris Purdy, Canadian Press.
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