Local funeral home owner Brad Jones says it was a repatriation service he will never forget.

Jones, of Ridley Funeral Home, at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W., was among the companies that helped the Canadian military to transport the body of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough and honour five of her colleagues who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece.

A Cyclone helicopter carrying six Armed Forces members crashed into the Ionian Sea on April 29. Defence officials have said it was returning to HMCS Fredericton at the end of a NATO training mission.

The remains of Cowbrough were recovered while the other five service members on board are missing and presumed dead. The remains of one other person have been recovered but not yet identified.

Cowbrough’s casket, which was draped in the Canadian flag, was slowly carried out of a CC-177 Globemaster at CFB Trenton by fellow military members while the mournful sound of bagpipes played. Her family then gathered next to a hearse after the casket was placed inside.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Jones recalls. “It was very somber seeing the many people lining up on bridges and overpasses along the Highway of Heroes as we made our way downtown.”

Jones, whose home is celebrating 100-years this year, says the crowds were very somber, respectful and “people braved the virus to be out on the bridges and along the highway to catch a glimpse of our heroes.”

The Canadian Armed Forces in a statement said “despite the challenges presented by the current COVID-19 environment … we are committed to a dignified and respectful repatriation for our fallen aviators and sailors.”

The other fallen members are Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald, from New Glasgow, N.S.; Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, from Truro, N.S.; Capt. Kevin Hagen, of Nanaimo, B.C.; Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, from Quebec; and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, from Guelph, Ont.

Cowbrough is the second female Canadian military officer to have lost her life in a month. Capt. Jennifer Casey, from Halifax, was killed after a Snowbirds famed Tutor jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, while in the midst of a cross-country tour to boost morale during the pandemic.