Funeral plans have been announced for three-year-old Elijah Marsh, the little boy who died in the cold after wandering off from a North York apartment building Thursday.
In a statement released Monday, the boy’s mother invited the public to attend and said she is grateful for the outpouring of support for her family following the tragedy.
““I appreciate the time you have given me, but now it’s time to say thank you, for you (sic) donations [and support],” Georgette Marsh said in an emailed statement. “It is surreal and I am overwhelmed with appreciation and gratitude. I know so many people, people who don’t know him, love him and feel for me and family who are grieving so much.
“It’s the worst thing in the world to lose your child and to lose him like this. I live with his memories and when I start to feel [again], I will feel him.”
Funeral plans:
- Visitation will be held on Feb. 26 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Vescio Funeral Home - Toronto Chapel, located at 2080 Dufferin St., north of Rogers Road.
- The funeral itself will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Matthew’s United Church at 729 St. Clair Ave. W.
Video surveillance footage showed that Elijah wandered off from his grandmother’s apartment building around 4 a.m., dressed in nothing but a T-shirt, diaper and boots. The little boy was reported missing when his absence was discovered around 7:30 a.m.
Thousands of people shared the little boy’s image on social media after he was reported missing, with many volunteers turning out in person to search for the boy.
The little boy was discovered without vital signs around 10 a.m. and he died in hospital a short time later.
Since then, the city has shown an outpouring of grief, with an ever-growing memorial of teddy bears, cards and flowers piling up outside the building where Elijah wandered off. An online fundraising campaign that wrapped up Sunday also raised more than $173,000 to support the family.
Elijah’s family also said Monday that they have set up a Facebook page where people can go to share condolences and memories of the little boy.
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