Memorial for police students

A funeral was held Tuesday for the two Hamilton men killed in a car crash in West Lincoln last Thursday. The day was already painful — but was made even more difficult as this would have been Albunit Hiseni’s 21st birthday.

There was an outpouring of support for Albunit and Flamur’s families earlier today. More than one thousand people came to Michelangelo’s in Hamilton to pay their respects and to honour the two men who wanted to become police officers.

Albana Hiseni is Albunit’s sister: “He used to tell me live life to the fullest because life is too short.”

Albana poured her heart out to the crowd, she’s the sister of Albunit Hiseni who was killed last Thursday in a car crash in West Lincoln. Mourners remembered two men who were best of friends. 20-year old Albunit Hiseni and 21-year old Flamur Miftari.

Albana: “Today is March 18th, the day we would’ve celebrated Albunit’s 21st birthday. Instead we are celebrating his life, his dreams and how much we love you and miss you.”

Liridona Miftari is Flamur’s sister: “He was my best friend, mentor, my idol, my hero, now he’ll forever be my guardian angel.”

The Hiseni and Miftari families both came to Canada from Kosovo when the boys were children. They grew up together and went to Niagara College to become police officers.

Jim Norgate was Albunit and Flamur’s teacher: “As one of their professors, I had the privilage to both teach and get to know Flamur and Albunit at Niagara College. They were both excellent students who quietly went about their way and brought light everywhere they went.”

The president of the Albanian society spoke to the crowd and said if Albunit and Flamur would’ve been hired by Hamilton Police they would’ve been first generation Albanian police officers and would’ve been assets to the force.

Alyssa Vandervoort was a classmate of both: “They would be amazing police officers they talked about it all the time because I was going to be in dispatch that we’d radio each other.”

Syed Shah was also a classmate: “They were the ones who carried me through the whole course. I’ll miss their motivation, their determination that kept me going every day.”

The funeral for the two men was held at the mosque on Stonechurch in Hamilton following today’s memorial service. Niagara regional police say no charges have been laid against the 20-year old Glanbrook woman who lost control and initiated the three-car crash. The roads were icy at the time.