Cody O’Connor was remembered as a bright, brave and cheerful boy at his funeral Thursday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Penticton.

Cody, 8, was taken off life support last Friday, after sustaining burns in a motorhome fire in August in Oliver.

“He was very bright and colourful, always playing outside, and everyone he met he put a smile on their face and a spring in their step,” said family member Maggie Taylor in the eulogy.

Taylor further read from a poem that she said she asked Cody to help her write, which ended with the words, “This is not a goodbye, but until we meet again someday.”

The boy’s mother, Amanda O’Connor, told those gathered she was happy that those attending were wearing bright clothing per the family’s request.

Those gathered, from family members to community and Oliver Fire Department members, were comforted by the words of Bishop David Northcott.

Bishop Northcott spoke of how sometimes we live our lives in the “If only” stage, if only the firemen had been there one minute earlier, if only he hadn’t gotten the infection in the hospital, and encouraged those gathered not to play this game.

Cody suffered burns to 40 percent of his upper body, after a fire broke out in the motorhome where he was staying with his family in the Centennial RV Park in Oliver.

He was saved from the Aug. 28 blaze by Oliver Fire Chief Dan Skaros, and taken to BC Children’s Hospital for care.

The boy, who was set to start grade 3 at Oliver Elementary School this month, was taken off life support, surrounded by family members, at Canuck Place hospice in Vancouver last week.
Several fund raisers are scheduled in the next week to assist the family.

With files from Castanet