MISSISSAUGA, Ont. 芒鈧�� A cousin of the Ontario woman killed in the New Year's Eve terrorist attack in Turkey says his family feels empty without her.
Ammar Abdul-Raheem spoke outside the memorial service of Alaa Al-Muhandis Sunday, who was one of 39 people killed when a gunman opened fire at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year's Eve celebrations.
Abdul-Raheem said his cousin, a 29-year-old mother of two, always tried to be there for her loved ones.
He said she loved art, fashion, and everything that sparkles.
芒鈧揓ust like anything that sparkles, how it brightens a room up and brings joy to everyone, that芒鈧劉s who Alaa was to us.芒鈧�
Cars filled the parking lots and lined the street outside a Mississauga, Ont., banquet hall as mourners gathered for the service.
Outside of the hall, a picture of Al-Muhandis was surrounded by wreaths, flowers and candles.
The service was closed to media, but a close friend of Al-Muhandis芒鈧劉s father, Kemal Degistani, said the hall was packed past its 300-person capacity.
He said the whole Iraqi-Canadian community came together to mourn.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s tragedy,芒鈧� he said 芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re all affected since day one.芒鈧�
Basim Yousif, who did landscaping at Al-Muhandis芒鈧劉s home and her family芒鈧劉s businesses, said he felt like he lost a family member.
He remembered Al-Muhandis as a kind woman, who let all the neighbourhood kids play in her backyard.
芒鈧揝he left them to play, to make noise, whatever,芒鈧� he said.
He said the family芒鈧劉s home and businesses are out of the way for him, but he happily made the trip because he loved working with them.
Hasan Rahim had lost touch with Al-Muhandis, but he remembered time they spent together walking home from high school.
芒鈧揝he was hyperactive,芒鈧� he said. 芒鈧揝he liked to talk. She was a sociable kind of person.芒鈧�
芒鈧揑nnocent people keep getting killed,芒鈧� he added. 芒鈧揑 have no words to explain the situation.芒鈧�
Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version contained the incorrect spelling of Kemal Degistani
