Family and friends bid farewell to Harley Lawrence during a funeral service in Kentville, N.S. on Wednesday.
The 62-year-old homeless man was sleeping inside a bus shelter in Berwick, N.S. when the structure caught fire on Oct. 23.
Lawrence died in the blaze and police say both the fire and Lawrence’s death are considered suspicious, although no arrests have been made.
About 200 people attended Lawrence’s funeral, held at the White Family Funeral Home, which donated its services to the family.
“I knew Harley years ago. I grew up around the corner from him in Hantsport. We were the same age and so on and I thought it was a lovely ending to the way he sort of lived in the past few years,” said friend Carl Colburne about the service.
A large area of the funeral home was sectioned off for Lawrence’s family. His younger brother shared stories about a hard-working boy who loved camping and the outdoors.
Lawrence’s family recognized Harley had problems, but say he refused their help.
“It’s been many years that have been hard followed but they’re quite torn up,” said Pastor John Andrew, who knew Lawrence through his outreach work in the community.
Following the funeral, Lawrence’s remains were brought to Hantsport, where he grew up. A number of family and friends attended his burial, but requested that media not attend.
While Lawrence grew up in Hantsport, he had recently become a familiar face on the streets of Berwick.
Some people in the community believe the fire was deliberately set and that Lawrence was murdered, although police have only said the case is suspicious.
His friends hope the case will raise awareness about homeless and mental health.
“I would like to think that people today heard the message that we do need to be more compassionate to the people that struggling in this life,” said friend Brian Bishop.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Alyse Hand
