The day after their father was convicted of first-degree murder for killing their mother, Tina Eisnor’s children say they are deeply conflicted.

Devan IIllingworth and Ashley Mae Eisnor say their feelings range from sadness to euphoria.

“I felt like a weight was completely lifted off my life,” says Devan, recalling the moment the jury declared his father had been found guilty of murdering his mother.

“He does deserve first-degree. I’m glad it was first-degree, but at the same time, I still had him in my life for 20 years. We had our good times, like all families do, and we had our bad times.”

“I think he got what he deserved for shooting my mom, but there were very mixed emotions because it’s like, on June 30, you lost both parents, really,” says Ashley Mae.

On June 30, 2010, Wayne Paul Eisnor shot and killed his wife in broad daylight in the parking lot of a grocery store in New Germany, N.S.

He then turned the gun on himself but failed in his attempt to kill himself.

More than three years have passed but his children say they feel little comfort.

“He asked Wayne did he have any comments and Wayne said ‘no’ and that broke my heart because I thought maybe he could have just acknowledged me and my brother,” says Ashley Mae.

After the guilty verdict came down Thursday, Eisnor was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. His children say, at this point, they’re not sure what that will mean for a future relationship.

“Five to 10 years down the road I’m hoping I can forgive him,” says Devan. “Not for what he’s done, but just so hatred doesn’t overtake me, so that my life isn’t defined by this one selfish act.”

As they look forward to moving past this dark chapter in their lives, the siblings are speaking out about domestic violence.

“You have to share your stories, no matter how hard they are to say to other people,” says Devan. “I mean, it’s embarrassing, these kinds of things, but it shouldn’t be embarrassing.”

“I thought it was wrong to go somewhere for help, to really, really reach out and really make that big move and protect yourself,” says Ashley Mae.

They hope that by sharing their story they can help other victims of domestic abuse find their voice and call for help.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell