Injured actor Noel Johansen remembers his wife who died in Lapu Lapu Day attack
Noel Johansen, an actor who has appeared in several Hallmark movies and various other TV series, paid tribute to his wife Jenifer Darbellay at a vigil held in memory of victims in the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy.
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Darbellay, an artist and costumer for theatre and film, was one of the 11 people who died when a driver in an SUV rammed into the crowded festival celebrating Filipino culture on the evening of April 26. Adam Kai-Ji Lo, 30, faces eight counts of second-degree murder in connection to the deaths of victims ranging in age from five to 65 years old.
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Johansen and their 7-year-old daughter, along with more than 20 other people, were also injured.
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The couple also have a 15-year-old son.
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Johansen, who has appeared in the films Reunited at Christmas, Harvest Love and the TV series When Calls the Heart, Loudermilk, Fargo and The Good Doctor as well as multiple voice acting credits, stood on crutches Monday night as he spoke to a crowd gathered near the site of the incident at East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street.
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'What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what's inside my heart is broken. Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident,' Johansen said in a video posted by Global News.
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'She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself, she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach,' said Johansen holding back tears. 'And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her.
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'So don't be small in life. Be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have — and please remember us who went through this.'
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