The funeral for 12-year-old Cormac Kerin was held in Port Hope on Friday, December 11, 2020.
Cormac and his 12-year-old sister were involved in a accident just outside the family home on December 2, 2020 while they were about to board a bus for school. Tragically Cormac died at the scene.
His sister, Shea was airlifted to Sick Children’s Hospital where she remains.
Along with the family, the community of Port Hope and beyond has been stricken with grief since the incident trying to find someway to console the family.
A private service was held at the Ross Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Port Hope.
Cormac’s father, Brendan was kind enough to share the eulogy to his son that he spoke during the service.
Below is the eulogy in its entirety.
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Cormac Anthony Kerin was born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 9, 2008, and immediately formed an unbreakable bond with his older sister Aishling.
In May 2009, our family made the big move to Warkworth, Ontario. A year later, his beautiful, firecracker sister Shea was born.
We integrated as a family into the magical community of Warkworth and Trent Hills, our children attending St. Marys, Campbellford.
In 2015, Our family moved back to Jennifer’s childhood rural home in Campbellcroft, Ontario.
We quickly immersed ourselves in several communities—a new chapter in our family’s journey.
With his sisters, Cormac began attending a fantastic new school:
St. Anthony’s., in Port Hope, Ontario.
Cormac proudly played for the Millbrook Stars hockey organization for three years. He loved playing for Millbrook but wanted to get closer to his friends at school and his local community. He was heartbroken to leave but very excited to become a Northumberland NightHawk.
He was quickly welcomed into the nighthawk family and became a very competent and earnest hockey player.
He wasn’t the best; he wasn’t the fastest, more often than not, one of the biggest.
He loved to play the game, but he loved his teammates and coaches more.
People around the world have been under so much stress and pressure this year. It has been unbearable for all of us.
And it’s cliché at this point, and NOW this.
I suppose that could be the end of the story.
But that’s not what happened.
In the past ten days, a human community response miracle in Northumberland County occurred.
It has been one of the most beautiful, most touching, and selfless responses.
Our family is closer. Our community is closer.
I know Cormac would love that.
I also know Cormac would be devastated if this were to happen to another family.
I know Cormac would be in tears for days over this.
I know Cormac would do anything to help that family in need.
This was his character; this was who he was.
He wasn’t perfect. He didn’t get a leg up. Cormac had to work hard at it, like all of his friends, classmates and teammates.
Sometimes Cormac would have disagreements with his friends.
Feelings got hurt. But Cormac, with that unique charm of his, always found a way to fix it.
I believe it’s fair to say the tributes Cormac has received in the ten days since his death is because of his character.
Cormac’s tragic and unthinkable death has created a remarkable chain of events.
There were so many heroes on that terrible day.
Somebody will tell their story one day; it has to be told.
● The heroism and professionalism of Firefightlighters, EMS, Police and civilians.
● The split-second decision making by medical professionals at Northumberland Hills, Orange, and those living angels at Sick Kids, Toronto.
In our community, everyone knows somebody that was been affected by this terrible and tragic day.
Northumberland OPP Sergeant Mark Collins said it best to Jennie and me yesterday.
“When these types of tragedies happen to a small, tight-knit community like this, It’s not 6° of separation or somebody you might distantly know – it’s a 1° separation tragedy.
Sergeant Collins also told us one last titbit before leaving, which we hadn’t heard about yet.
Cormac’s last action in his life was his attempt to push his sister Shea out of the way.
Typical Cormac.
Today, hopelessness does not exist amongst our family or in our community.
We celebrate a beautiful boy, a miracle response from our community that has LIFTED our family; Amy, our amazing bus driver. The many brave and affected first responders and so
many others.
Nice try, darkness.
You can only gather around us, and you cant get in.
We understand there are many struggling right now. Our family is humbled to its core by the community’s support in our time of most desperate need.
We can promise as a family; we look forward to passing this generous gesture from our beloved community – on to others in their time of need.
Cormac would want this.
On behalf of your beautiful Mommy, your amazing and stoic sister Aishling and your most incredible and sassy sister Shea;
Your classmates, your teammates.
Your very best friends and this most unique and loving community,
We all love you; your light has helped many.
We will never be the same,
In time, we will be better for it.
We will live in your spirit.
Goodbye, God Bless,
Godspeed – never give up, Cormac.
May God eternally rest your soul,
With all the kissing hands, a boy can handle.
We love you, Cormac.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
