'A shining light': Van attack victim Anne Marie D'Amico remembered at funeral

At a funeral service held Wednesday, family and friends of Anne Marie D'Amico remembered the 30-year-old asa caring, loving individual.

"She was not a quiet presence, she was just this light, this shining light," said FrancescaImbrogno,a high school friend ofD'Amico's, outside St. Clare's Roman Catholic Church in Toronto.

"No one would be the same after they'vemet her."

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Mourners packed the pews of the churchto rememberD'Amico, who was among 10 people killed inlast week'sdeadly van attack in Toronto's north end.

D'Amico'sbrother, Nick, delivered the eulogy, sobbing ashe recounted their childhood adventures.D'Amico, he said, wasa shy child whonever wanted to be the centre of attention.

D'Amico worked at Invesco Canada, a U.S.-based investment firm with offices near the scene of the attack, and has been described as a cheerful, friendly person and a dedicated volunteer.

ImbrognosaidD'Amico'sfamily doesn't want people who knew Anne Marie to be sad or angry.

"They want us to be hopeful and happy and to pass on her message," saidImbrognio. "So I think that's really important, in the spirit of Anne-Marie, to keep hope and spread kindness."

'Be better to one another'

TheD'Amicofamilysays Anne Marie would havewanted people to care for one another in the aftermath of thetragedy.

In a statement read by a friend outside the church, her family said she was a warm person with a big heart.

"Like spring time, Anne Marie also had a lightness about her. A warmth and a way of being that we miss beyond words and feel deep in our hearts," said the family's statement, read by friend John Simonetti.

"We believe it is our obligation to all those affected by this tragedy, especially to those who died, to be better to one another...that is what Anne Marie would have wanted."

The family says they feel broken by the tragedy but want theirresilience to be a legacy to the 10 victims of the attack.

Funerals have already been held for Dorothy Sewell, 80, Geraldine Brady, 83, and 85-year-old Munir Najjar.

Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, Ont., has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 of attempted murder related to those injured in the attack. Police say they expect to lay another three attempted murder charges against him.