'They've left us in a sea of tears': Families mourn slain Calgary mom Sara Baillie, daughter Taliyah Marsman

Sombre, weeping tributes contrasted with a joyous dance homage to the victims' love of song at the Calgary memorial for Sara Baillie and her daughter, Taliyah Marsman, who were killed in a case that one mourner described as an "unspeakable evil."

"We are of course overcome with grief by the unnecessary loss of two beautiful members of our family," saidJanet Fredette, Sara's mother andTaliyah'sgrandmother.

• Watch the entire memorial here.

"Despite our grief, we are also overwhelmed by the strength this community has given us."

Family makes statement

8 years ago

Duration 0:39

Janet Fredette, Sara's mother and Taliyah's grandmother, spoke to the media before the memorial service

Baillie, 34, was found deadin hernorthwest Calgary home on July 11, sparking an Amber Alert for her five-year-old daughterthat ended three days later when police found Taliyah's body in a rural area east of the city.

Police laid two first-degree murder charges against Edward Downey.

Police say the accused is known to both victims. Police originally said Downey also knew Taliyah's father, Colin Marsman Baillie's estranged common-law partner but said in June 2017 they no longer had confidence in that information.

Unprotected 'from unspeakable evil'

JuanJoffre, a neighbour and close friend of the family, saidTaliyahwas a remarkable young girl who was precocious in the strength of her convictions.

He said the bond between mother and child was remarkably strong, as well.

"With Sara and Taliyah, one gave life to another but, in a sense, they both gave life and love to each other," Joffre said.

"And, in the end, they were both unable to protect themselves from unspeakable evil. They've left us in a sea of tears, our humanity our only rudder to steer us away from hatred."

'I'm tired of mourning,' saysuncle in dance tribute

Sara's uncle Scott Hamilton and cousin Justin Hamilton celebrated the mother and daughter duo'slove of dance by breaking out in a dance themselves during the ceremony, toMichael Jackson'sDon't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.

"If there's anything that Sara and Taliyah loved to do, it was dance," Scott Hamiltonsaid.

"Quite frankly, I'm tired of mourning. I want an opportunity to celebrate. And this is it."

After the brief, joyful moment, Hamilton'stone became sombre again.

"We will miss you two dearly," Scott Hamiltonsaid, fighting back tears.

"We love you to the moon and back."

Watch the dance tribute

8 years ago

Duration 1:34

Taliyah Marsman and her mother, Sara Baillie, were remembered at a ceremony Thursday in Calgary, including their love of dance.

'Sara's motto of selflessness'

Tawny Poelzer, a former co-worker of Sara's,described her friend as kind-hearted, empathetic and a"true optimist."

"One of my fondest memories of Sara was a few Christmases ago when it was a struggle to get through the holidays," Poelzer said.

"I had picked up the phone just to talk to her and, without saying a word, she could hear it my voice and was over to our home in a heartbeat. She brought her upbeat cheer, her contagious laugh and then we proceeded to wear outdoor Christmas wreaths on our heads for party hats and laugh so hard, until tears streamed down our faces."

Poelzer said Sara found "her true calling" in motherhood, and brought the same generosity to parenting that she extended to her friends.

"If there's one thing I can take away from Sara's friendship, which has ended far too soon, it is to live by Sara's motto of selflessness," she said.

"She literally was the person to give you the shirt off her back, always giving and looking out for others, and never expecting anything in return."

'We watched this tragedy unfold from afar'

Sara's uncle Erroll Raynersaid the strength of the local community has helped the family get through an unthinkably difficult time.

"My home is in Australia and, like countless thousands of others around the world, we watched this tragedy unfold from afar, and what we saw from you was inspiring," he told the gathered mourners at the church.

"We saw the tireless efforts of the Calgary Police Service. We saw a growing tsunami of love, empathy and support from the community. We saw complete strangers crying in the streets and taking every action they could to display to the family and to the rest of the world how your community felt about this kind of crisis."

"On behalf of my family, thank you all very much," Rayner added."You are an inspiration around the world."

'Kind, smart, beautiful and full of light'

Speaking on behalf of Taliyah's father's side of the family at the funeral service, her step-sister Agatha Mardinger described the little girl as "kind, smart, beautiful and full of light."

"Let us remember the good times we have had withTaliyah, like taking her to the zoo, taking her to the park, seeing movies, being at restaurants, havingsleepoversand much more," she said.

"We love her so much, she will be forever in our hearts."

'If there's anything that Sara and Taliyah loved to do, it was dance

8 years ago

Duration 3:35

Families mourn slain Calgary mom Sara Baillie, daughter Taliyah Marsman

Dozens ofcondolence messageshave been left on theMcInnis&Hollowayfuneral home page.

A tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park in living memory of the mother and daughter, the family said.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to theMissing Children Society ofCanada.

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• Q&A:Understanding the North Preston's Finest gang linked in deaths of Calgary girl, her mother
• Edward Downey, charged with murders of Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie, makes 1st court appearance