Ben March

A loving message from dad My dearest Benjamin, Never did I ever imagine I would have to sit down and write a goodbye message to you; children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around. But I don’t want to dwell on your passing, I want to celebrate your living. Your family and friends were honored to have you a part of their lives for almost 19 years; those years were full of great memories and love. Through all those years, your beautiful soul and happy demeanor shone through for all to see. Seeing how many people have reached out since you passed is a testament to how you impacted their lives and how much people thought of you; we just wish you had been able to take a step back when you were hurting and see how much people cared. Your great friend Cam is here to carry you on your final journey. We have received so many pictures and memories on your myKeeper site, from your school friends and those in your firefighting program. I remember you calling one day to tell me you were first dressed in your bunker gear competition, and how pleased you were. How you would call daily to see if your ‘G’ license was in as you wanted to get ready for your D-Z license so you could drive the firetrucks. Ben, it arrived on Monday, and if you feel under your hands, I placed it in your coffin. I think about how much you loved your roommates Andre and Ben, you three were like brothers. I think about how you went to visit your twin sister at Brock, but told her you had to rush back early Sunday as you and Ben were volunteering the toy drive. I can’t tell you how many times I called you on the weekends and you would text back to say you were at the toy drive…you loved helping out there. I recall the calls when you were so excited about what you learned that day. To hear how much your captains thought of you and how they have canceled classes so your platoon and classmates can all attend your service remotely is another testament to you. We buried you in your uniform because we know how proud you were to be part of that program. Your roommate, platoon-mate Ben is here to carry you on your final journey. Benjamin, I think back to the hours we spent together when I coached you in hockey; we have so many beautiful memories from those years; the trips to tournaments, the mini-stick games throughout the hotel, trying to wake you for 6 a.m. practices….I treasure those. My best hockey memory is getting you all dressed up in Kyle’s old hockey gear when you were 4 and taking you the parent/ tot skates. You would zip around and then fall asleep in your booster chair in the car and I would carry you in and lay you on the couch fully dressed in that gear. And look today at how many of your former teammates and their families are honoring you today either in person or remotely. Coach Joe is here to carry you on your final journey. I fondly cherish the countless hours we spent in the car traveling to wrestling practices, camps, competitions, and weekend clinics. I laugh when I think how I would only take cut veggies for lunch just like you when you were cutting weight so we could go through that together, and how we would run hills at Sunnidale Park together, even though I could never keep up. I laugh at how Coach Farid would tell you, you were going on a 10 km run, but didn’t tell you that was only the halfway point. I remember how excited and proud you were to compete in Poland and Mexico. I think about hugging you when you lost a match and celebrating with you when you won; the group hugs of joy from all of your Mariposa family after a big win…there is no other sport in the world that people of all races, religions, backgrounds, all act like family to one another…I am thankful we had that opportunity to be a part of that family and we will always be so. Don’t tell coach Bob, but you are wearing a Mariposa singlet in your coffin as we wanted to honor that part of your life. Ben, you can see by the outpouring of emotion from your wrestling family, how much they loved you. Your favorite coaches, Coach Bob and Coach Farid are here to carry you on your final journey. As a twin, you and Jessica shared a beautiful bond that few can know. I remember carrying the two of you in your baby carriers to church when you were just born and every week, the priest asked if my arms were longer. Seeing the vast number of pictures of the two of you together as you grew up brings back so many memories. The fact that the two of you grew even closer as adults is even more heart-warming. Benjamin, you know how much Kyle loved you too. I remember him coming with us to shinny and public skating and him standing there waiting to show you how to do a skill. I remember the two of you out on our backyard rink together getting frost-bitten toes. He always looked out for you and you were so blessed to have such a loving older brother. Your loving brother Kyle is here to carry you on your final journey. You know how much your family loved you which is why this is so hard for all of us to accept that we won’t be able to see you succeed as a firefighter, get married, have children, all the things you wanted in your future. There are no words to describe how much your mom, Kyle, and Jess adored you and our pain is that we know what an incredible future and life journey you had in front of you. My dearest Ben, I could go on forever with all my memories of you, but I won’t; I am going to come to visit you at the cemetery regularly, sit down with you and we will share those memories just you and I. You will forever be a part of us, of me…..I could not be more proud of the man you became, and I hope you are looking down and smiling, feeling the outpouring of love from so many. Ben, I will love you forever, Dad