Carleton mourns the passing of three students

 

 

Melissa Gillett dreamt of the acceptance of all people throughout the world, remembered Alison Rielly, a friend who went to high school with Gillett and stayed close with her following graduation.

 

She was also a brilliant and talented writer who never felt ashamed to say what she wanted, Rielly said. 

 

“She was such an intelligent girl, the world will not be the same without her,” Rielly said.

 

Leaving her two parents, Bruce and Gail Gillett of Perth, Gillett passed away in her sleep on June 14.

 

“Her death came as the biggest shock to me because I couldn’t believe that her beautiful soul would never grace our presence again,” said Rielly.

 

Brodie Houlette, a former Carleton student and residence-mate of Gillett’s, said he remembers “having long talks in the cafeteria about life, love and the nature of things.”

 

Houlette, who said he initially hadn’t heard what happened because he was overseas, said, “I think she would be remembered most for her cheerful, artistic loving personality.”

 

A funeral service for her was held at Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Funeral Homes in Ottawa on June 18.

 

 

Ian Lam remembers the conversations he shared with his friend, Chen Yuan. The two would often talk late into the night as Lam said they both “suffered from insomnia.”

 

“He always seemed to genuinely care when talking to you,” said Lam, also describing Chen as someone who was generous, kind and outgoing. “To me personally, he’d also be remembered as someone that was always happy and generally enjoyed all that life has to offer.”

 

On May 24, Chen and his friend Fanzheng Meng spent the day with friends at Britannia Beach. They had been celebrating Meng’s girlfriend’s 21st birthday when they decided to go boating on the Ottawa River. But they never returned. On June 4, Chen’s body was pulled from the water. 

 

Chen, an international student from China, was majoring in film at Carleton. Meng was a computers student at Algonquin College.

 

A funeral service was held for Chen in Ottawa on June 6. His parents hope to establish a memorial at Britannia Beach. 

 

 

A brain aneurism claimed the life of fourth-year Carleton student Blake Armstrong on May 29.

 

“What a tragic and sudden end to such a great person,” wrote Ron Higgins on the online guest gook dedicated to Armstrong.

 

“Blake had such a positive influence on so many people in his life. We will all miss him,” wrote Andrew Thompson.

 

Denise Lamirande wrote, “Every time I saw Blake I would think . . . what an outstanding young man.”