A funeral service was held on Saturday for Gurcharan Panesar, one of five victims killed in a house fire in Falconridge two weeks ago.
The blaze also damaged a neighbour’s home.
Panesar’s family, members of the Sikh community and the family of Panesar’s neighbours paid their respects, after what was one of the deadliest house fires in Calgary history.
Happy Mann, a local Sikh community leader and a Wildrose party member, offered his condolences at the service and thanked the neighbouring non-Sikh community for paying their respects.
“It’s a generosity that we as Calgarians have,” said Mann, thanking the community and calling it “true Canadian spirit.”
George McGregor, Panesar’s neighbour, also spoke at the funeral, saying that despite some of Panesar’s personal battles, he was a good family man.
“He was fighting a demon, a demon of alcoholism,” said McGregor. “But despite his demons, he always had his family at heart.”
The service was held in a small, modest room at the Calgary Crematorium, with a few dozen in attendance.
Those paying respect solemnly laid rose petals on Panesar’s casket.
Panesar’s wife wept throughout the service when the room became silent during pauses for religious readings.
Panesar, 47, leaves behind children and his wife, Sukvir Panesar.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, although both the fire and police departments don’t believe the cause was suspicious.
The identities of the four other men who perished in the blaze are still unknown.
