Nearly a week after losing his life while battling a five-alarm fire, Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy was laid to rest during a funeral Saturday morning.
Hundreds gathered for the service at St. John's Catholic Church in Worcester, including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other state lawmakers, All of the members of the city's fire department also wre able to attend the ceremony as 80 firefighters and 25 neighboring communities handled Worcester's emergency calls, WBZ-TV reports.
Roy, 36, was seriously hurt battling a three-story building blaze early Dec. 9. He became trapped on the building's second floor and later died from his injuries.
“We all should consider ourselves blessed for having gotten to know Roy and bringing him joy throughout his life as he did to ours," a Worcester firefighter said during one of three short eulogies by colleagues Saturday. " Even though his life was cut way too short, he will always be with us in our hearts and looking down on us with his infectious smile. I know there is a void that will never be filled, we will all stick together as friends and family, we will never let his memory die."
On Friday, about 5,000 people attended a wake for Roy, according to WBZ. Before Saturday's service, Roy's casket was taken from the funeral home to the church on Engine 5, the same apparatus Roy was on Dec. 9. A local body shop donated detailing work for Engine 5 and Ladder 4, which displayed flowers.
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Roy is survived by daughter Ava, 9, a brother and his parents, who still live in Worcester. A memorial fund for his daughter has been set up by Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009. Checks should be made out to "Ava Roy Fund" and mailed to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union , 34 Glennie St., Worcester, MA 01605.
