A “generous” father, a mother who was “always smiling,” a “beautiful” and “very mature” young woman, and a “kind and considerate” young man - all of whom were killed in a plane crash Oct. 10 - are being remembered by family and friends this week.
Kevin Houle, 50, his wife, Lorry Lemaire, 50, their 17-year-old daughter, Emily Houle, and Emily's boyfriend, 17-year-old Michael Rollins, were returning to Sudbury from Kingston in a small plane piloted by Kevin.
The group had been visiting one of the couple's other daughters, Amber Houle, who attends university in Kingston.
The plane hit a tree, broke a wing and ejected three of its occupants. It was found in several pieces.
Dayna Corelli, 19, said she's a close friend of Amber. The girls started playing soccer together at age 14 with the Sudbury Panhellenic Soccer Club.
“All of our thoughts and prayers are with her. If there's anything at any point we can do, there are hundreds of people who want to help in any way they can. I just want to tell her to stay strong. She's a strong and beautiful person, and she'll get through it,” said Corelli.
The Houle family is also survived by Lorry's daughters from a previous marriage, Jaclyn Bernardi and Daniele Bernardi. Rollins is survived by his parents, Sally and Greg Rollins, and his siblings, Jamie and Carter.
Corelli said she has spent a lot of time with the Houle family.
“The Houles are probably the most generous family I've ever known. Just having them around as soccer parents, every time they had anything to offer, they would offer it in a heartbeat,” said Corelli.
“For years, we would go down to the GTA for our soccer weekends, and Kevin Houle, the father, would be driving the bus. The bus would be his, from Tracks and Wheels. He never asked for anything. He always offered. He loved to do it.”
Kevin, who ran the family's mining supply business, Tracks and Wheels, was also an avid photographer, and would present each of the team members with a CD containing images from the road trip games, she said.
Corelli said she remembers Emily, a Grade 12 College Notre Dame student, as a “very mature” and “beautiful” girl.
“She definitely had a presence about her. Even though she was younger (than me), she was great to talk to and have around. She was a great supporter of the team, and a very big family person.”
Lorry, who was a geoscience lab technician, was “always smiling,” said Corelli.
“She was always one of those people from the sidelines who was the most positive person. She was always cheering. When things were down, she said, 'Let's go girls, you're great'.”
Rollins, a Grade 12 student at Lockerby Composite School, is described by the school's principal as someone who was “extremely well liked by our students and staff.”
“He had a number of friendships within the school, but those friendships also extended outside of the school as well, because he was very much committed to community hockey,” said Heather Gaffney.
“He was a student who had a terrific sense of humour, and was a very kind and considerate student.”
Gaffney said her students are “devastated” by Rollins' death. The school has brought in grief counsellors to help mourning students, she said.
“In terms of the funeral that's going to be occurring on Friday, I know we're going to be sending a large contingent of students and staff,” said Gaffney.
“What we really want to focus on is the support, and once we get through these next few days, we'll start thinking about how to honour Michael.”
Johanne Chretien, principal of College Notre Dame, said Emily will be remembered as a student who loved sports and was warm and friendly to others.
“She played soccer and basketball. So, there's the teams that are saddened, and the students in Grade 12,” said Chretien.
“In the classroom itself, she was always in a good mood. She liked to joke. She was a friendly student. Right away, she would greet others. She was a very warm person.”
Chretien said the students will be signing a scroll of paper with their memories about Emily. A school memorial service is also in the works.
The Houle family business, Tracks and Wheels, issued a statement about the accident Oct. 13. All branches of Tracks and Wheels will be closed Oct. 16 and 17 to commemorate the victims.
“The shock of the tragic accident still hasn't sunk in to many...We would ask our business partners and friends to keep the Houle family in their prayers. At this time, no words can communicate the sense of loss to the community and the Tracks and Wheels team, who have lost a leader, a mentor and a friend.”
Dick DeStefano, executive director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association, said that, in recent years, Kevin had taken over the business from his father, Conrad.
“I would guess that he (Conrad) is going to have to re-assess where he's going with the company without the leadership of his son.”
DeStefano said Kevin was “very personable, very open, and quick to respond to any requests. I've heard more guys say that if there was somebody stuck for something - like a community group - he was very quick to contribute.”
Kevin had a vision to bring Tracks and Wheels out onto the global stage, said DeStefano.
“He talked about Mexico and expanding into western Canada, and he talked about China. He talked about adding new products. In fact, he even had those lined up.”
Funeral arrangements
A funeral for Kevin Houle, Lorry Lemaire and Emily Houle will be held at St. Jean de Brébeuf Church, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m.
All three are resting at the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home. Friends may call 2-9 p.m. Oct. 16. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Houle-Lemaire Family Bursary would be appreciated.
The funeral for Michael Rollins will be held at St. John the Evangelist Church in Garson, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. He is resting at the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home. Friends may call from 2-9 p.m. Oct. 15.
Donations to the Cancer Centre or the Human League (sports program) would be appreciated.
