Brendan Burke was laid to rest today in Canton, Mass., just four days after he died in a car crash.
[Brendan's father] Brian did not speak during the service, the family eulogy being delivered instead by Brendan’s sister Molly and brother Patrick.
Molly described her loving brother as “an invitation to the dance of life.”
“I can’t think of a better way to describe what you offered me,” she said, before breaking down in tears.
Patrick delivered an impassioned assessment of his brother’s “courage to transcend cynicism and fear.”
“His vision of the world was a spark that lit a fire of hope in so many people,” Patrick said. “That fire has not been extinguished by his death. His memory will fan a flame of courage in all of us.”
You can read various stories from the Toronto Star, the Associated Press, the Toronto Sun and the Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.).
on Feb 9th, 2010 at 7:07 PM
Absolutely tragic.
on Feb 9th, 2010 at 7:19 PM
I love that last quote by his brother:
“That fire has not been extinguished by his death. His memory will fan a flame of courage in all of us.”
Prayers are still with the family. So, so sad.
on Feb 10th, 2010 at 1:15 AM
Truly heartbreaking on SO many levels. Let us not forget that along with Brendan the tragic accident also took the life of Mark Reedy. One need only read the comments and view the number of “fans” on the facebook tribute pages devoted to both Brendan http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/RIP-Brendan-Burke/292260711559?ref=mf and Mark http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Mark-ReedyThe-ManThe-SonThe-Loved-OneMissed-Forever/458933640620?ref=ts to realize the impact that both of these young men had on the lives of others.
on Feb 10th, 2010 at 1:45 AM
The entire eulogy delivered by Brendan’s brother, Patrick Burke, was posted in the Toronto Star and is as moving as any I have ever heard:
Patrick Burke delivered the following eulogy at his brother Brendan’s funeral:
“Brendan lived in a world without walls, without limits, without boundaries.
From birth, he had an unshakeable faith that genuine good resides in all people.
Along with that faith, was hope. Hope that he could bring that good out from inside people and into the world by being open, caring and kind to everyone he met. Looking around this room, it is clear that he is right.
Brendan only had 21 years but in that time the sheer power of his love transcended everything. He was the hope of the next generation for the old. The beloved friend and role model to his peers and a hero to the young…”
“He spoke to the hearts of the audiences of millions and to the courage of the high school boy who eats alone at lunch everyday.
He was strong and unyielding in his convictions but soft, sweet and gentle in their application.
He was the best of the Burkes and the best of the Gilmores.
He taught the teachers and he learned from the students.
He was the face of a movement and will always be the soul of the family.
To many of us, Brendan’s world was a dream world. Brendan had the courage to transcend cynicism and fear and live for 21 years in that glorious dream.
His vision of the world was a spark that lit a fire of hope in so many people. That fire has not been extinguished by his death. His memory will fan a flame of courage in all of us. Inspiring all of us to be a little kinder, a little stronger, a little better. A little more like Brendan.
Through all of us, his hope still lives and his dream will never die.”
on Feb 10th, 2010 at 9:12 AM
howw tragic , the photo from the Toronto Sun of The University of Miami of Ohio hockey team leaving the Church breaks my heart , You can see how much he was loved and respected by his team