Girl ‘loved helping others’
MaCali Cormier, 4, remembered as ‘an awesome big sister’ with passion for learning
The four-year-old girl who died in a tragic accident at a Christmas parade is being remembered as a child who “loved helping other people” and had a passion for learning.
MaCali Cormier died Saturday night after she fell under the wheels of a float during the annual Parade of Lights in Yarmouth, N.S.
Her obituary, posted on the H.M. Huskilson’s funeral home website, said Cormier was a preprimary student at Yarmouth Central School and “couldn’t wait” to go to the new school that is being built across the street.
It said she also loved swimming, camping, horseback riding, dancing, and watching YouTube videos.
“MaCali will be remembered as an awesome big sister to Tessa and Matthew Cormier,” read the obituary. “Most of all, MaCali will be remembered as a little girl who loved helping other people.”
A spokesperson at Huskilson’s said they have chosen to absorb the funeral costs. Instead, donations can be made through the funeral home to a trust fund for Cormier’s younger siblings.
“The family is struggling enough without the added burden of having to pay funeral expenses, so we’re just another member of the community that’s trying to help them out,” the employee said in a brief interview.
Huskilson’s said visitation and funeral times will likely be confirmed on Tuesday.
Since Saturday, dozens of friends have sent messages of condolences to the two young parents, whose Facebook pages paint pictures of sorrow and sympathy.
In a long Facebook post, a family friend described it as a “heart wrench of a time” and recalled when he first met the girl.
“I held her when she was just a baby, such a cute and innocent little human being, with so much love and family around to turn to if she had an issue,” he wrote.
“Even people who never ever met her, or the family, is grieving ... a piece of my heart has shattered and will never be able to be fixed.”
Other posts express disbelief and shock.
“This world is so unfair I cannot believe it,” wrote one woman, who had changed her profile picture to a photo of Cormier. “I’m so so sorry ... she was a beautiful little girl!”
Said another friend: “There are no words that will even begin to express how sorry I am, nor are there any amount of words or prayers that will make this all easier.”
Many have said they will keep the family in their thoughts.
A vigil was to be held Monday evening at Frost Park, which is close to the town’s waterfront, to pay tribute to the young girl whose death has devastated the community.