Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 22/02) - Family and friends of murder victim Eddie Paul Beyonnie laid their beloved son, brother and friend to rest on Thursday.

About 300 people attended a funeral service at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Yellowknife to celebrate the life of the talented 22-year-old artist, musician and aspiring chef.

Eddie Paul Beyonnie's mother Agnes, centre, is comforted by loved ones as her son's coffin is carried out of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church Thursday. - Robert Dall/NNSL photo

Beyonnie died in the early-morning hours of July 12 after suffering a fatal wound. Police have not released the cause of death, but have arrested and charged Derek Jason Sangris, 23, with second-degree murder in connection with the death.

The killing has shocked the close-knit community of Ndilo, where both the victim and suspect lived. Beyonnie's father, Paul Mackenzie, said Eddie and Derek grew up together and were once good friends.

"It's pretty hard," said Mackenzie, sitting at the picnic table outside his mother's home, surrounded by his family.

"When a tragedy happens like this, a family takes it hard," he said. And the pain and sorrow they are all feeling is "hard to say in words."

Warren Cummins, Eddie's wildlife teacher at St. Patrick high school, says he has been dealing with the cycle of shock, anger and sadness that accompanies every tragedy.

"I just went through the whole range of emotions within a very short period of time," he says.

But the healing process must begin sooner than later, says Cummins, and he had a few words of advice to offer Eddie's friends and classmates in their time of grief.

"Do what Eddie would have done and quietly take it in and internalize it and turn it into something productive and creative.

"I know that when Eddie was stressed at things he would draw and I think that's how he dealt with his personal things. That's what I would say to other people -- take what you have learned and what you have experienced and turn it into something positive."

Following the funeral Eddie Paul Beyonnie was laid to rest at the Lakeview Cemetery in Yellowknife.