MONTREAL - About two hundred friends, family, and well-wishers -- some lining up outside for almost an hour -- gathered on a cold, clear Sunday to pay respects to the two young children who were killed in rural Quebec last week.
Visitors at a viewing for Anne-Sophie Turcotte, 3, and her brother, Olivier Turcotte, 5, expressed regret at their young lives taken far too soon and gave messages of support to the family.
Their grand-uncle said the children's mother, Isabelle Gaston, an emergency room doctor, is displaying an exceptional steadiness and courage in this difficult time.
"She has phenomenal strength," said Yvan Gaston, 74, standing outside the funeral home in east end Montreal.
"Much stronger than mine. It's difficult to see those two children. I was here (Saturday) night and it makes you sick. I didn't see any men holding back tears."
The bodies of the siblings were found by police Feb. 21 in the family home in Piedmont, a rural community north of Montreal.
Their father, 36-year-old cardiologist Guy Turcotte, is charged with two counts of first degree murder in connection with the deaths.
An arraignment was held last week and Turcotte's case returns to court April 30 when a judge will decide on a schedule for the proceedings.
The mother, who is separated from Turcotte, was away on a ski trip when the children were found.
Gaston said there is no way to ready yourself for the loss of young children.
"You always think it'll happen to other people, it won't happen to you." he said.
"But like my niece, I'm a believer. A strength comes from somewhere and it helps us through this."
Marcel Tardiff, a family friend, also came to give comfort to the mourning family.
"We know the grandparents," he said.
"We're here to offer our sympathy and support."
The killings stunned Quebecers and made headlines across Canada.
Quebec psychologist Pierre Faubert said it's important for the community to be able to openly express their grief in times of adversity.
"Children have died. There's a mother who's suffering deeply. I'm sure the father is suffering too. And we're all suffering because these people are part of our community."
One man, who had made the trip from Repentigny, a community northeast of the city, called the events "terrible."
"When you hear about it on the news, you can't help but be touched. (The mother) has courage, a tremendous amount of courage," said the man, who did not give his name.
Many of the visitors did not know the family but were touched both by the events and the heartfelt obituary by the mother published in local media last week.
"I am lucky to have been chosen as your mother because you were exceptional," she wrote.
"I love you and I'm suffering because you're gone."
Raymond Gravel, a Roman Catholic priest and former-Bloc Quebecois MP, will officiate the children's funeral, which is planned for Monday morning.
"When it comes to children dying, it's always sad and when they die this way it's even worse," Gravel told The Canadian Press.
"The mother wants the ceremony to reflect the children's personality. They were lively, healthy, so she doesn't want it to be sad."
The priest said he'll keep the ceremony simple and focus on the themes of love and peace. He added the mother is an exceptional woman who's being helped through the tragedy by family and friends.
"She's suffering," he said.
"It's hard to lose children. But she's showing a lot of strength."
