People gathered Wednesday to mourn of the loss of Dayna Brons, 24, the 16th victim of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
Her funeral service took place at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt, Sask.
Brons, who grew up on a farm in the Lake Lenore area, was remembered by Lake Lenore School athletic director Curtis Strueby as someone who strove to improve herself as an athlete and was an approachable, friendly person.
“You talk to any coach or teacher and they’re going to tell you, ‘when you see past students have success in real life, you’re always happy for them’ and this was the case with Dayna,” Strueby told Global News.
While in school, she was involved in dance, played saxophone, hockey, soccer, basketball, fastball, and ran track.
WATCH: Oilers coach speaks about Humboldt Broncos athletic therapist Dayna Brons
Brons graduated from the University of Regina (U of R) with a bachelor of kinesiology degree in 2016 before receiving an advanced certificate in athletic therapy at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“(Brons) was someone who would put others ahead of herself. Although she was a quiet and soft-spoken presence, she was able to light up a room,” former U of R classmate Racquel Marshall said in a tweet.
The tragic collision between the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) team’s bus and a semi-trailer north of Tisdale on April 6 claimed the lives of 16 players and staff on their way to a playoff game. Thirteen others were injured; nine remain in hospital, two in critical condition.
Brons passed away in hospital on April 11 surrounded by friends and family.
Her family said Brons will forever be remembered for her joyful smile, passion and love of sport. She joined the SJHL team in 2016 as their athletic therapist and was extremely proud to be part of the Broncos family.
“Dayna’s great sense of humour, her easy smile and sunny, loving personality endeared her to everyone who came in her life. People of all ages and animals were drawn to her fun-loving nature,” the service’s program read.
“Her passion for athletics and her independent, tenacious spirit earned the respect of colleagues and teammates wherever she played or worked.”
The Saskatchewan SWAT lacrosse club held a flower ceremony and moment of silence on April 14 to honour Brons and all those lost and still recovering. Brons was an athletic therapist for numerous players within the SWAT organization.
She also worked with the Saskatchewan Roughriders during their 2016 training camp.
The family is asking that memorial donations be sent to the Royal University Hospital Foundation in Saskatoon or the “Dayna Brons Scholarship Fund” at Mount Royal.
Humboldt is approximately 105 kilometres east of Saskatoon.
With files from Global’s Ryan Kessler
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