Three hundred mourners gathered Friday afternoon for the funeral of Hunter Brown, an elderly man who was slain while delivering Christmas cards in the southern Ontario city of Kitchener.
Hunter Brown made an annual tradition of walking door-to-door to hand out his Christmas cards.
(Canadian Press)
The 74-year-old died after he was attacked last Saturday afternoon with an "edged weapon" while handing out cards door-to-door in his neighbourhood, a tradition he carried out every year, police said.
Brown was remembered as a doting grandfather, father and husband. He was "an individual who brought laughter and joy" into everyone's lives, Pastor James Koellner told mourners gathered at the Henry Walser Funeral Home.
Brown leaves behind a wife, two children and three grandchildren. He and his wife, Beverly, had lived in their two-storey home for more than 30 years and were well-known in the closely knit community.
Neighbours said they were appalled by the daylight attack and described Brown as a "community-spirited person" who was always gracious.
Friends and family say he was often called Grandpa Brown by those who knew him and his grandchildren remember him dressing up like Santa Claus every year to put a smile on their faces.
Brown was born in Toronto in 1933 and graduated from Leaside High School before studying commerce and finance at university, according to the funeral home's website.
He worked at Bell Canada for decades, moving to Kitchener when the company transferred him there.
After retiring, he spent much of his time volunteering with numerous organizations, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Rotary Club.
Days after the attack on Brown, police released a composite sketch and voiced worries that the assailant had also been involved in another attack on a man shovelling his driveway.
Hours after the sketch was released, Trevor Lapierre, 22, of Kitchener, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Brown's slaying.
He also faces a charge of assault in connection with the other attack. His next appearance in court is scheduled for Jan. 9 in Kitchener.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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