Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
The infectious smile of eight-year-old Kaden Sandy was remembered yesterday, as mourners gathered at Shiloh Seventh-Day Adventist Church to say farewell to him.
His mother, Abeke Jones, told those gathered that her child, who she called her “munchkin”, was like no other and although only eight, lived a full life.
“I just want to say that it was a privilege being Kaden’s mother. I don’t think that there is a child on this earth that was sweeter than my little munchkin. He did live a full life, but he lived a loved life,” she said.
The Standard One pupil of the Lower Morvant Government Primary School, Lady Young Avenue, died on September 22 when the fishing boat he was in capsized. Kaden and his family members went fishing off Centipede Island, Chaguaramas.
His grandmother Sandra Jones said Kaden was able to catch 13 of his favourite fish, red fish. She recalled her last moments with her last of five grandchildren as he was overly excited to go fishing with relatives.
She said she woke up each morning when Kaden, “the sweetest of them all” would have been preparing for school reminiscing of the times she spent with him. She said of all her grandchildren, Kaden was one of the most attentive to her, helping her after a surgery she recently had and would daily ask for an update on how her day went.
“He loved his belly. He loved his family.”
Kaden’s grandfather Kelvin who uses a wheelchair, told those gathered that Kaden would sleep on his shoulder, a habit he developed as a baby and never broke. He cried as he recalled the time spent with Kaden and how he brought joy to his family.
A handful of his classmates prepared a poem for him and presented the family with a Bristol board card of hearts signed by his entire class. One of his teachers, Clint Charles reminded those gathered of Kaden’s contagious and bubbly personality.
“Kaden was a lover, every single day he would run up to me with that smile. He had a charm. I don’t want to speak as though I am unique because I believe every teacher would have experienced that charm and that smile.”
And while everyone spoke of Kaden’s smile, his sister Kelise Jones questioned why God took her brother.
During the eulogy, she said Kaden referred to her as his princess, despite being younger than her and dared anyone to touch her. She said he was his grandfather’s eyeball, his mother’s munchkin, his grandmother’s little helper.
“Kaden taught me that everybody deserves a smile and that you were supposed to show everybody love. Overall Kaden was polite, well-mannered and most of all always smiling.”
She added that Kaden was the family’s pride and joy.
“I was taught from small not to question God’s plan, but why now? He was only eight. He was full of life and ready for the world.”
Jones ended her eulogy asking for one more hug from her brother, telling him she loved him in Spanish, as she recalled his scandalous laugh.
