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Hundreds mourn 45-year-old victim of Toronto van attack

A visitation was held north of Toronto for Renuka Amarasingha, one of 10 people killed in last month鈥檚 deadly van attack in Toronto
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Flowers, notes and candles are piled high at a vigil on Yonge Street in Toronto, Tuesday, April 24, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Galit Rodan

Hundreds of mourners came together at a chapel north of Toronto on Sunday, where they sang songs and said prayers in remembrance of one of 10 people who died in last month鈥檚 deadly van attack in north Toronto.

Renuka Amarasingha, 45, was an active member of Toronto鈥檚 Sri Lankan community and a single mother who leaves behind a seven-year-old son.

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A eulogy delivered at the visitation in Markham, Ont., described her as an incredibly generous person who lived for her son.

鈥淪he was a strong, hard-working woman whose goal was to ensure her son would be a respectable man in society,鈥 said Dilmi De Silva, a member of the Buddhist temple Amarasingha visited weekly.

鈥淔or over 15 years, she was a supportive figure in the community,鈥 said De Silva. 鈥淪he left us all with memories of her kindness.鈥

De Silva described how Amarasingha would volunteer at the Scarborough General Hospital, where she would donate toys to sick children, and said she always brought food and snacks for the children at the temple.

Amarasingha was a nutritional services worker for the Toronto District School Board, and had just started her first day of work at a school near the attack site on the day of the incident.

Gayam Samadeera, who along with his wife was friends with Amarasingha, said she didn鈥檛 have much family in Toronto, but had made many friends in the community.

Samadeera said the visitation service featured both Christian and Buddhist ceremonies, because Amarasingha was an active member of both faiths.

His son was also friends with Amarasingha鈥檚 son, and the two went to the same temple for Sunday school.

鈥淭he hardest part is thinking about her son,鈥 said Samadeera. 鈥淎t least we know he鈥檚 not alone, he鈥檒l have people around him.鈥

Samadeera鈥檚 son, Sonal, said Amarasingha鈥檚 son, Diyon, was always fun to spend time with at their Sunday school, where they would often play together.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Diyon, and has already received more than $350,000 鈥 more than double its initial goal of $150,000.

Amarasingha鈥檚 visitation is one of many that have already taken place for the victims of last month鈥檚 attack, where a van mounted a sidewalk and plowed through 26 people.

Twenty-five-year-old Alek Minassian of Richmond Hill, Ont., has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder, with another three attempted murder charges expected.

Another visitation will be held for Amarasingha Monday morning, followed by a funeral service in the evening.

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Salmaan Farooqui, The Canadian Press

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