By NEWSDAY REPORTER Saturday, January 5 2013

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FINAL JOURNEY: Senior firemen (at right) salute as the casket bearing the remains of fire officer Natalie Pierre-Boyce is taken out of the Holy Trinit...

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NATALIE PIERRE-BOYCE, 33, was described as a very spiritual person, great friend, excellent planner, lover of sports, and musical instruments. These words were expressed by Boyce’s two sisters and a colleague, as they each gave a eulogy yesterday at Pierre-Boyce’s funeral at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain.

Boyce died on Sunday last, after she was shot once in the chest by a stray bullet shortly after she boarded a car at Jackson Place, East Dry River. The car, owned by a colleague was due to take her to Port-of-Spain.

Scores of family, friends, colleagues, and officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, including Chief Fire Officer Carl Williams, filled the Cathedral yesterday as six fire officers officially brought in the casket covered with the Fire Service flag.

As the service began and hymns were sung, one of the deceased’s sisters fell in front the altar as she cried, and screamed her sister’s name. She was comforted by three other family members. Analisa Pierre, one of the eight siblings gave her eulogy for Pierre-Boyce, which reflected her accomplishments.

Pierre said that Pierre-Boyce captained the San Juan All Stars Steel Orchestra, played in the National Netball team and served as an auxiliary fire officer for seven years. She later became a full-time fire officer over the past three years.

“It was in 2009, while training to become a full member of the service, Natalie met Clyphil Boyce, a wonderful, dedicated, genuine and committed man. They got married in 2010,” Pierre said. She noted that her sister was a, “loving mother, sister, child, wife, daughter-in-law and friend.”

Unika Pierre, the second sister to deliver a eulogy, recounted the life of Pierre-Boyce and the joy she brought to her family, especially her ten-year old son Dante, and 16-month-old son, Dominic.

“Let us not cry, but celebrate the life of Natalie Pierre-Boyce. She was the best sister anyone could ask for. Although we as siblings didn’t always agree, I know without a doubt she loved me,” Unika said.

Al Shallow, fire officer at the Morvant Fire Station and member of the Fire Service Steel Orchestra, gave the third eulogy for Pierre-Boyce. As he read his prepared speech, tears fell from his eyes and fellow colleagues who accompanied him to the altar were seen comforting him.

Shallow said that Pierre-Boyce was always the “life of any party” and someone who always encouraged others at work.

“My family and I are deeply hurt by the loss of Natalie. My wife is still in shock so much so that she wants to go abroad to live to escape this pain,” Shallow said. Pastor Fabien Sandiford of the Petit Valley Pentecostal Church — who officiated at Pierre-Boyce’s wedding — delivered the sermon yesterday at the funeral.

“Death is clearly no respecter of persons,” Sandiford said adding that because of senseless, stupid individuals with guns, Pierre-Boyce was lying dead in a casket. At the end of the service, Pierre-Boyce was cremated at Belgrove’s Crematorium in Tunapuna.