'We have to be able to forgive,' says family of Calgary man killed by alleged drunk driver
Jose Perez, 61, was killed on August 8 by a man police believe was drinking and driving
Two weeks before he was killed by an alleged drunk driver, Jose Perez, who had moved his family from Mexico City to Canada for a better life nearly two decades ago, walked his daughter down the aisle.
The day before he died, the 61-year-old went for a bike ride with his son Uriel and his wife Xochitl made fish and bean tostadas, Jose's favourite.
On August 8, the beloved husband and father of two was killed when he was struck while riding his bicycle near the McKenzie Meadows Golf Course. At the time, police said the 25-year-old driver was drunk.
Charges haven't yet been laid but police say the traffic unit's collision reconstruction team continues to investigate.
The bike Jose was killed while riding was a bike his wife and kids bought him for Father's Day. They said as a father figure to his seven younger siblings in Mexico, Jose didn't grow up with many toys.
"Biking, we thought, would be his way to enjoy life and so we got him a bike and he loved it, he loved riding it," said son Uriel Perez.
"It hurts that that's the way he was killed."
What hurts more, says the family, is the preventative nature of Jose's death.
A friend of the Perez family is raising money for the family through a GoFundMe website called In Loving Memory of Jose Perez.
Jose's dream
Jose, who still worked 80-hour weeks as a chemical engineer, supporting his family as the sole breadwinner while flying in and out of Fort McMurray, wanted to see his children achieve higher education.
"He wanted the best for me and Uriel," said daughter Celic Perez. "He taught us the best morals possible; he taught us faith, he taught us to love our neighbours and create friendships with everyone around us."
"He molded us into who we are today."
Uriel, 23, is headed off to medical school next year after completing his masters degree. He also works as a medical assistant with the army reserves.
Celic, 24, is pursuing her education degree.
The move to Canada
In 2002, Jose brought his young family to Canada. He believed this country would give his children the best chance at a bright, education-filled future.
"We became Canadian citizens as quickly as we could so that we could embrace the Canadian culture," said Uriel.
Coming from Mexico City, Jose quickly fell in love with Canada for its quiet pleasures, especially the country's natural beauty.
"He enjoyed the simplest things in life and nature was one of them," said Celic.
God's timing is perfect
Celic was on her honeymoon in Kelowna having just gotten married when her mother and brother called, saying Jose had been in an accident and to get home right away. They didn't tell her he'd already died.
She says she finds peace in the fact her dad was at her wedding.
"Life's timing and God's timing is perfect."
Celic and her now-husband almost cancelled their wedding because of COVID-19 — both had been recently laid off.
But she expressed to her dad that she had a feeling she wanted to make the wedding happen.
"It was just very difficult timing and my dad motivated us and he was like 'if you guys think this is the time for you to do it, just do it.'"
A final day with dad
The family quickly organized a small, intimate wedding and Celic says, "the day was perfect."
Uriel also had a special day with his dad before the accident.
Jose arrived home in Calgary on a Wednesday after weeks of working 12 hour days and seven day weeks in Fort McMurray.
On the Friday, Uriel and Jose went for "a beautiful bike ride together." The next day, they fixed the garage while Jose's wife Xochitl prepared tostadas for dinner.
"We had a good father-son bonding," said Uriel.
The Perez family says their Roman Catholic faith is crucial in getting them through Jose's death.
'We have to be able to forgive'
They pray together every day and attend church.
"Mourning is for the living but my dad right now is in paradise, he's resting," says Uriel. "He'd been working so hard the past few months and he was tired."
Celic and Uriel say forgiveness has been a topic they've discussed in recent days. But there is a distinction the siblings make between forgiveness and justice.
For the Perez family, they have put their faith in police and prosecutors in hoping for justice but forgiveness will come no matter the outcome.
"Forgiveness is really hard but you have to forgive in order to free your own soul," said Uriel. "It just poisons you if you have that hatred inside of you and everything happens for a reason."
"We don't understand why things happen sometimes but we have to be able to forgive."
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