BELOEIL, Que. - Even in death, Pte. Sebastien Courcy lived up to his reputation for being organized and meticulous.
The young Canadian soldier had sketched out the details of his possible funeral, requesting the hymn Amazing Grace and asking for the service to be held at the stately St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil church overlooking the Richelieu River, just in case he was killed on his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He was.
The 26-year-old soldier died July 16 when he stepped on an explosive device and fell off a cliff during military operations southwest of Kandahar city.
On Saturday, some 200 family, friends and military colleagues came to pay their final respects as the St-Hyacinthe, Que. native was laid to rest in a ceremony just south of Montreal.
"What I remember about Sebastien was how he was organized, meticulous and considerate," said brother-in-law Sylvain Richard.
"He knew the risks he was taking when he joined the army but at the time of his death he made it easy for us. He had organized everything."
Richard recalled a young man who, despite joining the rough-and-tumble military, enjoyed his creature comforts and worked out every day -- habits that earned him the nickname 'Princess.'
"His pack may have already weighed 100 pounds but it wouldn't bother him to add another five or 10 pounds of things to keep him comfortable," he said.
Courcy joined the Canadian Forces in 2006 and began his first tour of duty in Afghanistan last April.
He was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment Battle Group based in Quebec City.
"At a funeral we speak of death but we also pay homage to the life lived, Sebastien's life," said Padre Jean-Francois Noel, who helped officiate the ceremony.
"His mother said he fulfilled an important dream of his and that she'd never seen him so happy. So many people watch time go by and don't fulfil their dreams -- he did and I think he's proud of what he accomplished."
His mother, Ginette Fecteau, stood dry-eyed as the flag draped over her son's coffin was folded and handed over to her, along with his military insignia.
She then reached over and pinned the medal Courcy had received posthumously for his service in Afghanistan onto his father's lapel.
Family friend Miguel Moquin stood with his arm around Courcy's mother, offering her comfort and support as her son's coffin was placed in the waiting hearse.
He later recalled Courcy as a dedicated soldier and described how they would play army together as children.
"I'm really proud of him. He had always been there for his family and friends, he was the best guy I've ever known. I'm going to love him forever and he will love me forever."
Childhood friend Alexandre Bissonnette stood outside the church clutching a Canadian flag and a photo of Courcy in his army uniform.
"He was a quiet guy with strong values, a great Canadian," he said.
"I have so many memories of him, good ones that we keep for days like today."
