The husband of Cyndi Duong, one of eight people killed in Edmonton’s worst mass murder in modern history, says his religious faith is helping him deal with her death.
“I’m still sad, angry … it’s through our faith that got me to where I am now,” David Luu told CBC News this week.
“Our family, our friends, the community, people we don’t know giving us support … it’s a blessing for us.”
Cyndi Duong, 37, was shot to death in her south Edmonton home on Dec. 29. (Facebook )
Duong, 37, was killed in her home in south Edmonton on Dec. 29, one of eight people shot to death by Phu Lam over two days.
Lam, 53, killed seven others at a north Edmonton home the day before, including his wife, Thuy Tien Truong, 35, her son, her sister, her parents, her niece and a friend. Lam later committed suicide in a restaurant in Fort Saskatchewan.
Hockey is a big part of the family’s life. Luu was a fan of the Oilers while growing up. He says both he and Cyndi spent hours at the rink watching their kids play minor hockey.
Their son, Jeremy Duong-Luu, 14, scored the winning goal in his first game since his mother’s death.
The teen said he only played the game to get his mind off things.
“I didn’t expect to score anything, either, to be honest,” he said. “I just wanted to get through the game, have fun.”
“I was thinking about my mom. Trying to make her proud that night.”
Like his father, Duong-Luu said he is getting better with the help of friends and family. He remembers his mother as someone who changed everyone she talked to.
“She was the best mom ever,” he said. “It was unreal how much she cared for us.”
Another Alberta family touched by tragedy has reached out to the father and son.
Greg Head, a friend of Rod and Jennifer O’Brien, invited them to an NHL alumni game Thursday night in Calgary.
The O’Brien’s five-year-old son Nathan and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Likness, disappeared seven months ago. The three are believed to have been murdered.
Proceeds from the hockey game will go towards a children’s foundation set up in Nathan’s name.
