Sandra and Shannon Hallam say goodbye (2 photos)

The family and friends of Wesley Hallam attended a tear-filled memorial service in his honor Saturday.

“Wes did not die for nothing. Sandra (Hallam) did not raise him for nothing . . .Through this travesty of justice, change will come that will benefit other mothers who lose their children in tragedies,” read Pastor Gene Monin, in his memorial service address at O’Sullivan Funeral Home & Cremation Centre.

The service was held in front of a memorial table where an urn surrounded by flowers and photos held the recently-returned cremated remains of Wesley Hallam.

The memorial service will contribute to a feeling of closure for Hallam’s mother Sandra Hallam, and his sister Shannon Hallam.

The two have endured a five and a half year investigation and court process that ended this July in a controversial plea-bargain.

“For five and a half years I could just keep putting it off, saying goodbye. Now I can’t put it off,” said Sandra Hallam with sadness, and perhaps even a sense of fear.

Sandra said the final goodbye for her son will be during a burial and mass on Monday.

Sandra Hallam said that both a mass and memorial service were requested by her son after she received his wishes through a spiritual medium in October.

At a Friday dinner in Wesley Hallams’ honor, Sandra Hallam and her sisters ate her son’s favourite meal, a classic turkey dinner.

Since the July 28 sentencing of the killers, Sandra Hallam said she has not left her home except to visit her daughter Shannon Hallam, who is equally distraught.

Shannon Hallam’s boyfriend has taken time off work to help take care of her and her 15-year-old son with severe autism.

 “I don’t want anyone to feel the way I have.  The last five and a half years have been torture. I was worried about how I was going to manage three months of trial. Having this verdict means I don’t have to worry about that and that’s the only good thing about it,” said Shannon Hallam.

Shannon said she suffers from PTSD from her brother’s death and other things.

“Coming into the Sault I see so many people connected to this . . . it triggers my PTSD see somebody related to (Wesley’s death). There were 20 people at that party... I can’t go anywhere without bumping into somebody involved. I’m glad I live in Bruce Mines now (but) it’s pretty sad I have to live out of town to get some peace,” she said.

Last month the three men who killed Wesley Hallam pleaded to manslaughter and indignity to a dead body, after a plea deal that is being questioned by many in the community, including the chief of police. The resulting sentence could see all three men out within two years after time served is factored in.

Sandra and Shannon Hallam said that the joint statement of agreed facts that came out of court proceedings doesn’t tell the full story.

They are now in talks with lawyers about how they might be able to get that story out.

Before the service was a several hour-long wake, ‘a celebration of Wesley’s life’.

Sandra Hallam said members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services (SSMPS) attended the wake.

She lauded the efforts of SSMPS and regional OPP and said that, since the investigation began, she has become personal friends with one of the investigators.

When the spiritual medium channeled Wesley Hallam’s messages and funeral wishes to Sandra Hallam in October, a ‘kind of peace’ came over her she said.

“He hurt me in life, but he hurt me even more in death. I didn’t sleep for so many nights; I’d always be expecting a phone call. Now he wants (me) to rest and not worry,” she said.