Family and friends bid a final farewell to ‘Barries’
Family, friends and the community mourned the death of Chief Supt Roelof ‘Barries’ Barnard at his funeral, last Monday.
Word and Life Church in Sunward Park, Boksburg, was filled to capacity, last Monday, as Chief Supt Roelof ‘Barries’ Barnard’s family, friends, colleagues and the community at large, said their final goodbyes.
The funeral showed once again how many lives Barnard touched before his untimely death.
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Barnard’s coffin was brought into the church’s auditorium through an EMPD guard of honour and placed in front of the stage.
After a moving ceremony, the coffin was placed on an Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) fire engine which drove out of the church’s grounds led by EMPD and DEMS personnel.
The GCN spoke to guests at the funeral, who all agreed Barnard would be missed.
Beatrix Nel, who met Barnard through ringball, said, “I did not know him for very long but what a man.
“It was such a pleasure knowing him.”
Long-time friend, Ester Els, also shared a moving tribute which ended simply with, “We will always miss you.”
“Barries you are going to be sorely missed, you touched so many people’s lives,” said Sam van der Merwe.
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For his family, friends and the community at large all they can do now is try to come to terms with the gap his death has left in many people’s lives and hearts.
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