‘He leaves a massive hole’: Family and friends remember life of Jude Strickland

A funeral service for 11-year-old Jude Strickland began with snapshots of his life - photographs of camping in the forest, playing in the snow, clutching a hand of Monopoly Deal cards on a sunny day, gathered around a gingerbread house, and, on at least two occasions, sporting a Maple Leafs jersey.

Well, we're given the impossible task of trying to summarize 11 incredible years of Jude's life in only a few minutes," said Jude's mother, Vanessa Strickland, her husband Jamie at her side. Jude was the loudest, funniest, most animated person in our family, and pretty much every room he walked into, and he leaves a massive hole not just in our family, but on this earth."

Jude was struck by a pickup truck while walking home from school on the Mountain on Tuesday, and died of his injuries shortly after midnight Thursday. Brandon Aubert, 28, of Hamilton has been charged with dangerous operation causing death in the crash.

Jude was remembered at a funeral service held Sunday at 3 p.m. at West Highland Church, and livestreamed on the church's website. A small, white coffin stood at the front of the sanctuary, while family and friends shared memories.

We all know that just after midnight on Thursday, Jude Calvin Strickland passed peacefully into the presence of his saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ," said lead pastor John Mahaffey, who led the funeral service.

The service was attended in-person by some - distanced and masked - and by hundreds" online, Mahaffey said. During the service, hundreds of comments of support, love and prayer from the community - from Hamilton, to Ottawa, to Chilliwack, B.C. - populated the screen.

Praying for peace and strength for the Strickland family at this difficult time," one message read.

Nicest friend ever," read another.

Three of Jude's best friends took the microphone together to talk about why Jude is awesome," speaking the last three words in unison.

Jude was awesome because he was happy and kind," said Ben, one of Jude's friends. Jude and I had fun together, whatever we were doing. We'd have great conversations and he would trust me with important things."

Jude's grandfather Peter Strickland and aunt and uncle, Shereen and Sam Kim, also spoke.

Jude would be the one to volunteer for the job or the role others thought would make them look silly," Shereen said. But to Jude, this was the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent of making people laugh, like being the voice of Mary for the Christmas reading in a family full of boys."

Jude was one of four brothers in the Strickland family.

Shereen's voice broke as she recalled hearing her nephew's first cry on the day he was born.

Little did I know, little did we all know, that little baby would grow up to have the biggest personality, cause the biggest laughs, get the biggest reactions from his Judeness' and be our biggest heartache."

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com