GRANBY, Que. — A seven-year-old girl whose death has become a rallying cry for change to Quebec's youth protection system was laid to rest Thursday at a funeral attended by hundreds of mourners —including many complete strangers.
A hush fell over those gathered as pall bearers carried the child-sized wooden coffin into St-Eugene Church in Granby, Que.
The 78-year-old church was decorated with several dozen stuffed animals amid the ornate stained-glass windows and religious statues.
"There were numerous messages — but above all to the little girl, we asked forgiveness," said Serge Pelletier, the priest who presided over the sombre ceremony that he said was meant to help the family mourn.
"And for the community — and Quebec at large — it was 'Can we be more attentive to one another?'" Pelletier added. "Particularly for those most vulnerable, the children."
The emotional ceremony was interspersed with tears and hymns for the little girl, who cannot be named because she was involved with youth protection and is also the subject of a court-ordered publication ban.
The young girl died in hospital April 30, one day after police found her at a home in the city about 80 kilometres east of Montreal.
Two adults — identified by people close to the family as the girl's father and his partner — were charged with unlawful confinement. The partner — described as the young girl's stepmother — was also charged with aggravated assault. They return to court on May 23.
Her death has triggered a number of probes and the Quebec government has ordered a public coroner's inquest into the death of the girl, whose case had been known to youth protection services for several years prior to her death.
The girl's paternal grandmother and mother struggled with emotions as they read a poem, and were overcome as they sang a song by late French singer Johnny Hallyday called "Que Je t'aime."
The girl's paternal uncle, who has actively advocated for the girl and for change, burst into tears as he read a card perched in a bouquet of flowers.
"You left us on tiptoes, quietly, without warning," he said through sobs. "We are still in shock."
Hundreds of people had paid tribute in the week since her death, leaving stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial at the girl's home a few kilometres from the church.
Her family donated half to the hospital in Sherbrooke, Que. The other stuffies, placed all over the church, went home with mourners, with instructions from the family to give them to a child who needs it.
"We had to promise to give one to a child in need and I think that's the most beautiful message the family could have given today," said Darlene Ryan, a victims'-rights advocate mandated to speak on behalf of the family.
Ryan said they want a full accounting of what happened in the girl's case and for Quebec to create an ombudsman to deal specifically with child protection cases.
"Children are in need of help," Ryan said. "And the victim we were here for today desperately needed help and the system was not there to do so."
Ryan said the family is emotionally spent, but adds that their ordeal is just beginning. Her organization, which deals with families of missing and murdered individuals, says they want an independent inquiry into how the system failed the girl.
The family's immediate concern is the victim's younger brother, who was removed from the home after his sister died and is now in the system instead of being put in the care of the paternal grandparents.
"He's with strangers at the moment, we don't know where and we don't know what type of help he's getting," Ryan said.
Pelletier said the same shock and disbelief heard elsewhere in Quebec is being felt in Granby, but perhaps on a more visceral level given the closeness of the community.
Some people among the mourners had vague connections to the family, such as having helped one relative move or crossing paths with another.
Others didn't know them at all, but the story has filtered throughout town.
"I came to commemorate the little girl, to show our sympathies," said parishioner Helene Bourdeau, who's been a member of the parish for 69 years and said she felt for the girl's mother.
"I lost a little guy too, so I feel close to her."
For Therese Fournier, a Granby resident since 1979, the young girl's death brought about a level of indignation as details have emerged about the girl's life.
"I feel like there was a lot of outrage and pain," Fournier said, as she clutched a newborn member of her own family outside the church.
"When I heard of her death, I felt anger, it's something we didn't think could happen."
