(Posted 8:30 a.m., Sept. 26)
Navan bids emotional farewell to two
amazing young men
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

The casket of Navan accident victim Brad Rivington is carried from St. Mary;'s Anglican Church following his funeral service on Friday. Fred Sherwin/photo

It was a day of mourning in Navan on Friday as the small east end village laid two of its sons to rest.

The first of three funerals for the three teenagers who died in a single vehicle accident on Heuvelmans Road last weekend was held for Chris Sabean at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Anglican Church.

Most of the seats in the 100-year-old stone church were reserved for family members, leaving several hundred of mourners having to either stand outside or cram into the church hall located next door where a small sound system was set up with an audio feed of the service.

The entire town came to stand still for the funeral service as police had to shutdown the main intersection in order to accommodate the hundreds of people who wanted to pay their final respects to one of their own.

As the funeral procession arrived, the sea of mourners parted so that they stood on either side of Trim Road as the hearse and other vehicles drove up to the front of the church.

The sky was a bright blue and the sun was warm as Sabean's casket was carried up the steps and into the church.

The service lasted about an hour with Rev. John Blakley presiding. "Sabes", as he was known to his friends, was remembered as a young man who enjoyed life to the fullest, was a generous and loyal friend and someone who could always be counted on to lighten the mood.

He loved football and enjoyed working for his father's glass company. Although he often wore his emotions on his sleeve, he also had a tough veneer bordering on bravado that covered up a much kinder and gentler side.

He loved and admired his brothers Justin and Alex and was proud of his parents Randy and Terry Sabean.

During his eulogy, Rev. Blakley, described the accident as the result of the "terrible randomness of life".

"On the one hand it gives us such wonderfully serendipitous moments as a beautiful sunset, but the other hand its marked by tragedy and unsuspecting death," said Rev. Blakley.

"So where is the good dream in this long nightmare. In the midst of this reality is the greater reality, a spiritual reality that interconnects us all and gives us the strength and courage to face even worse things."

As "In the Arms of An Angel" by Sarah McLaughlin started playing, Sabean's casket was carried from the church and into the waiting hearse, the stillness interrupted by barely audible sobs.

The scene was repeated two hours later for Brad Rivington, the second young man who died in the accident.

As was the case for Sabean's funeral service, close to 500 mourners stood outside the church to listen to proceedings over the speaker system, while inside about 250 family members and prominent community members, including former Cumberland mayor Brian Coburn and city councillor Rob Jellett, filled the pews and a handful of folding chairs.

The service opened with a moment of silence for Sabean and the third accident victim, Ginny Marko, whose funeral was being held at the same time as Rivington's at Orleans United Church in Orléans. Rev. Blakley also asked for everyone to pray for Elise Grundy, the lone survivor of the accident who faces a long road to recovery from her injuries.

The First Reading was delivered by family member Victoria Blue who read a passage from the Book of Revelation. Rev. Blakley then delivered his eulogy during which he once again described the deaths as a terrible accident.

"No one could have foreseen this terrible tragedy that has marked us all. It not only robbed us of a joyful, playful pleasurable personality in Bradley. It robbed us of their future and all that might have been," said Blakely.

Although Rivington worked full-time for his father's cartage company, he preferred working part-time at J.T. Bradley's Country Convenience Store in Navan where he could interact with his co-workers, friends and local residents.

Owner John Bradley said that Rivington harboured a strong desire to one day take over the store.

"He often reminded me that he was my favourite employee, that he was the manager whenever I wasn't around and that he wouldn't have to change the name of the store," Bradley said to a mix of laughter and tears.

Hundreds of mourners look on as the funeral procession for Bradley Rivington pulls away from St. Mary's Anglican Church in Navan on Friday.. Fred Sherwin/photo

Stopping once or twice to keep his emotions in check, Bradley went on to describe Rivington, who had known all his life, as a bit of prankster with a kind heart, an infectious sense of humour and a zeal for fashion.

"Whenever the kids in the village came in for ice cream, he would scoop a little extra and then give them a little 'ssshh' as if it was their little secret," remembered Bradley. "When he was nine, his father wanted to take him to a horse show, but his mother said that he wanted to go shopping instead. Brad loved to shop. He had a great collection of baseball caps and shoes.

"He was so respectful and such a gentleman, and he had a great work ethic. He would work all day for Norm and then come in and work at night at the store and he always had a smile on his face."

"Brad cared about a lot of things. He loved Navan. He loved his brand new Dodge truck. He loved his style. But most of all he was loved his brothers Chris and Steve. When he was younger all he wanted to do was keep up with his brothers. He made Navan a better place. Bonnie and Norm, I am so proud to have been a part of your son's life. Thank you."

After Bradley spoke, one of Rivington's closest friends Kurt Zeiseg read a short biography of his life. He described Rivington as being the life of the party who made everyone in the room smile. He loved watching and playing sports and one of his biggest passions was vehicles.

"He liked riding around in style," said Zeisig.

Following the convocation, Rivington's casket was carried from the church and into a waiting hearse where it was taken to Wilson's United Cemetery on Colonial Road for a private ceremony beside the Rivington family farm.

A candlelight service was to take place at the scene of accident in the evening to be presided over by Rev. Blakley.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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