Family members, friends, and others whose lives were touched by a pair of young men said goodbye Thursday after the two best friends were killed in a collision Sunday.
People lined up around the block to attend the visitation services for Christopher Sabean and Bradley Rivington, both 19, at the Kelly Funeral Home in Orleans.
The teens, along with 16-year-old Ginny Marko, were killed when their truck rolled over on Heuvelmans Road in Navan. A fourth occupant, Elise Grundy, 18, is in hospital with serious injuries.
The deaths shook the close-knit community, said Amanda Biagioni, a friend and one-time neighbour of Rivington. “Navan is really small, and it’s affected everyone really bad because they were such good kids,” said the 17-year-old.
“Brad knew how to have fun, but he was always there for you, too. If you had a problem, he was there to fix it. He was always willing to help someone in need.”
Nineteen-year-old Lee Brennan, who knew Rivington since they were four, said both would “give you the shirts off their backs.
“Chris was a good guy, too. He had this smile. He made people laugh … he was the life of the party.”
Caitlin Kenny, 21, who lives across the street from the Rivingtons’ farm, remembers Rivington as “a cute little guy.
“I see a lot of people here from Navan,” she said. “The whole community is grieving, but I think that this has really brought the community together. Everyone knows the Rivingtons and the Sabeans directly or indirectly.”
Kaitlyn Bonner, 21, said she went twice to the memorial where the collision occurred. “There were so many flowers, candles and signs, and footballs for Brad and hockey sticks for Chris,” she said.
Added Janet, who asked her last name not be used: “I’m just one of the many people whose lives Chris touched. But if you ask anyone here today, I think a lot of people will say the same thing.”
Janet, who works at the cafeteria at the boys’ former school, Cairine Wilson High School, said Chris stood out. “He would come into the kitchen and be social,” she said. “He was full of life, full of energy and happy.”
The funerals for all three victims are set for Friday.
