A family dinner was held on April 16 at the Port Alberni Friendship Centre to honor late Maxine Sam and to dry the family's tears after their year-long public mourning.
A feast was put together by Maxine’s children and family members. Sister Alice Sam opened the dinner with a short message to those gathered.
“Kleco, kleco for coming to stand with us in this hardest year,” she said, adding that it is time for the family to move on.
Late Maxine’s daughters stood beside Alice and others chosen by the family and held framed photographs of late Maxine. Alice said her sister was very cultural and she thanked the people gathered for their kind support in their grieving time.
With drummers following with a song for hearts to heal, the ladies walked around the outside of the gathering with the photographs.
Other business included the wrapping of a representative of the Charlie and Keitlah families as a ta'ilthma, supporting the families who had recently lost loved ones of their own.
Then the dinner was served, and family joined friends in a commemoration as they move into the future together.
