Known for his vibrant spirit, infectious laugh and compassionate soul, friends and family are remembering a 20-year-old Penetanguishene man.
Aven Akerman died following a single-vehicle accident that saw his car ending up in a ditch in the Town of Blue Mountains on April 26.
Akerman leaves behind his sister Ella and parents Jessica Laurin and Chris Akerman.
His aunt Tammy Laurin says that journey the family now finds itself on is not an easy one and as a way to make their road a little easier, she is asking for donations to cover funeral costs and to help them “get through this” and “process this long journey without their sidekick.”
She says their journey will not be an easy one.
“I want to help and hope the this community will help to make it a little easier without the stress of rushing back to work for financial purposes,” she wrote. “I’m hoping we can come together and help raise some money to help.
“No matter how much we are all there for them at this heart-wrenching time, nothing can heal their hearts, minds and souls as they grieve,” Laurin said on a fundraising page.
“Many of you have dropped off meals that are a huge help and they are very grateful. Just being able to reach for your prepared meals makes their time with one another that much more as they need to be able to reach out and hug each other when the darkness peeks through again and again each and every single day.”
Laurin noted that this is an extremely difficult time for her sister, brother-in-law and niece.
“No parent should have to bury their child or sit crying for hours wondering what were his last words, his last actions, his last thoughts,” she said.
“They need this time to be able to just be together, together with no thought about how things are going to go past the next day and the next and so on.”
Laurin said that besides helping with funeral costs, the fundraiser will allow Aven’s parents to take time to grieve without having to worry about returning to work right away.
“I know that the night of April 26th plays back in their minds over and over again, like opening a new wound, one that'll never heal.”
Akerman attended École secondaire Le Caron and according to his obituary, “his passion for life was evident in everything he pursued; including spending time with family and friends, whether it be snowmobiling, skiing, hockey, paintball, Xbox, and his new found love for fishing.
“May Aven rest in peace, knowing he was loved immensely and will never be forgotten. Aven’s legacy of love, kindness and joy will forever endure in the hearts of those he left behind.”
A celebration of life will be held on July 26, at 3 p.m. at the Akerman family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe by sending a cheque in the mail (366 Midland Ave., Unit 3E, Midland, ON, L4R 3K7) or an e-transfer to the organization ([email protected]).
