Cooper Nemeth celebration of life held in Winnipeg

Hundreds of Cooper Nemeth's friends and family members gathered at Calvary Temple in Winnipeg on Monday to celebrate the 17-year-old's life.

A wreath of red flowers in the shape of a heart, a hockey jersey, stickand Nemeth's ice skates were placed in front of mourners, who were seated quietly in pews.

Pastor Bruce Martin began Monday's service by addressingNemeth'sparents and siblings.

"God bless you and your family,"he said to them.

MartinacknowledgedNemeth'steammatesandtold them to use theservice as a moment to gain perspective. He wished them luck in the playoffs.

Many young people in attendance wore hockey jerseys as a nod toNemeth'slove of the game. He played with the River East Marauders.

"He told me he loved feeling the wind in his face as he skated down the ice," saidBrent Nemeth,Cooper Nemeth's father.

He addressed Nemeth's friends and said they will always have a place at their home.

"The garage is always open, the fridge is always full and you can talk to me," said Nemeth.

"Tough days are ahead and we know that. But we will be strong and we will go on.... Remember Cooper for the way he lived, and not the tragic and senseless way he died."

Nemeth was reported missing Feb. 14. After days of searching across Winnipeg, his body was found on Bayne Crescent on Feb. 20.

Nicholas Bell-Wright has been charged with second-degree murder in the case. Police have said the incident was drug-related.

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Nemeth'saunt, Laresa Sayles,who helpedco-ordinatehundredsof people in the search for her nephew,said the family has an uphill battle before them.

"This whole year is going to be absolutely horrible, but we're going to just take it one day at a time, and do what we can as a family, and keep busy and give back to the community who gave so much to us when we were in search of him," Sayles said.

Despite the nature of the tragedy and thechallenges that lie ahead, Sayles said Monday's service was about coming together to remember the positive impact Nemethmade on their lives.

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"We'regoing tocelebrate Cooper's life andbe together as a family, and friends andcommunity,"she said ahead of the service. "The end result isn't of course what we wanted and it's not going to be an easy road."

During the service, a close family friend and Nemeth's old hockey coach told stories and read memories submitted by Nemeth's teammates of thefunny things he did on the ice and in the dressing room, and the traditions that Cooper's family has that won't be thesame without him.

Andrew Skogen, who called Cooper the most "memorable kid" he's ever coached, recounted how the teen blew an air horn in the dressing room during a pep-talkbetween periods, getting everyone 'fired up' enough to go on and win the game.

A slide-show of photos of Cooper from a baby to a teen played to The Scientist by Coldplay, Forever Young and Wiz Khalifa's See you Again.

The service closed with everyone singing "Amazing Grace."

The pastor asked mourners to 'be still' in coping with Nemeth's lossand asked theyoung people to make good choices going forward. He said when speaking to Nemeth's mother before the ceremony, she said Nemeth was a "good kid," who recently "just seemed to get on the wrong path."

"Every one of us in this room has made bad choices...and not paid for it with our lives," said Martin. He said he feels the loss of Nemethdeep in his heart.

Nemeth's old coach said people would heal, but life would never be the same.

"Maybe when your buddies are on a breakaway, you'll help them out a little bit. We love you buddy. We're never going to forget. Rest in Paradise," he said.

Nemeth's obituary states that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the teen'sname to the Dianne Woods Memorial Player Assistance Fund with Hockey Winnipeg, to KidSport Winnipeg, or by contacting James Favel with the Bear Clan Patrol.