(Posted 7:30 a.m., March 10)
Hundreds bid final farewell to superhero from Orléans
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Funeral services for former Orléans resident and Garneau high school grad Steve Déry were held on Saturday. The service with full honours was attended by more than 800 police officers from across Ontario and Quebec. File photo

Former Orléans resident and Garneau high school grad Steve Déry was eulogized by his brother Benoit and Katvik Regional Police Chief Aileen MacKinnon during a funeral service attended by more than 800 police officers from across Ontario and Quebec.

Déry, 27, was killed while responding to a domestic dispute call in the small northern Quebec community of Kujjuuaq. His partner was also shot and remains in serious but stable condition.

Hundreds of officers, including all 15 members of the Katvik Regional Police Service, lined up on Sussex Drive to form an honour guard outside Notre Dame Cathedral.

Déry's urn was carried into the church by his brother Benoit accompanied by his father Gilkles, his mother Celine, his younger brother Mathieu and his life partner Amanda Tukirqi.

The church itself was packed to the rafters with family and friends gathered to bid their final respects to a fallen hero.

During his eulogy, Benoit referred to his brother as his "role model" and someone he always wanted to copy.

Steve Déry's brother Benoit eulogizes his brother during his funeral service on Saturday. Canadian Press

“Steve was the definition of the perfect brother and best friend. Around him, I always felt safe,” his older brother said. “He did a job that most don’t dare do and he did it well. I really wish I could have been there for (him).”

Chief MacKinnon referred to Dery as the community's "Superman"

During her eulogy she recalled two stories in which Dery impacted the lives of others. The first was about a 14-year-old girl who Steve talked out of committing suicide. The other was about a young lady who life was changed after Steve told her she didn't belong in jail.

Steve's best friend Greg Desirier also shared his memories of the fallen police officer who ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

“He’s the only person who knew what I was going to say by just looking at me,” Desirier said. “I can’t think of any of my best memories without thinking of Steve.”

The most emotional moments of the funeral service came when a retired RCMP officer and family friend read a letter to Steve from his father.

"You are so complete at 27 years of age," Gilles Dery wrote.

He recalled his son's athletic gifts, which led him to excel at a number of sports, including hockey, baseball, lacrosse and rugby.

"Thank you for these memories," Dery wrote. "I'm going to think of you every day."

Déry younger brother Mathieu expressed his thoughts about his brother in a statement to the media.

“Let’s mourn his death but not forget to celebrate his life,” wrote Mathieu.“Steve was one of a kind. He lived life to the fullest and with no regrets. We should all do the same.”

Déry was a gifted athlete and a popular student while at Garneau. After graduating from high school he went to Algonquin College where he enrolled in the criminology program. After graduating from Algonquin he went on to Carleton University where he earned a bachelors degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

He joined the Katvik Regional Police Force in 2009 and quickly endeared himself to his adopted community.

Mathieu Déry carries his brother Steve's urn out of the church following funeral services for the 27-year-old fallen police officer on Saturday, Steve's older brother Benoit can be seen to Mathieu;s left in his Ottawa Fire Service uniform. Canadian Press

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

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