Remains of US accident victim finally laid to rest

More than two months after he was killed in a vehicular accident in the United States of America (USA), the remains of Kenee Dabreo were interred this week at the Byera cemetery.

The burial took place on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 after a funeral service at the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Gorse.

Dabreo, who was originally from Byera, but migrated to the USA, died on October 25, 2022 in a tragic road accident.

Avianne Smith Cordice, sister of deceased Kenee Dabreo.

The 24 year old mechanic was the driver of a vehicle which was struck from behind.

Kenee and an American woman both lost their lives in that accident in South Carolina last year, and two others survived.

Officiating at the funeral service on Wednesday, pastor Markneal Ellis said he knew Kenee quite well, from childhood.

“I knew Kenee quite well. In fact, I watched him grow up in Byera,” said pastor Ellis who also hails from Byera.

Expressing sadness over Kenee’s sudden and tragic death, pastor Ellis recalled “When I heard the news, it really pained my heart”.

After the fatal accident last October, relatives were appealing for financial assistance to fly the body back home for the funeral.

However, the body was cremated and only the ashes brought back to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The urn with the ash laid at the front of the church during the funeral service.

Sister of the deceased, Avianne Smith-Cordice presented the eulogy and constantly referred to Kenee as her “baby brother.”

Smith-Cordice, who also lives in the USA said “part of me died that day” when Kenee died.

Continuing to remember Kenee, his sister said “he was very close to his family, he was the baby of the family.”

Apart from his love of mechanic work, Kenee was also remembered for his love of cooking and baking.

In 2019 he went to Antigua where he lived and did security work for a while.

“He was a very helpful young man,” his sister recounted.

Apart from his helpful ways, Kenee was said to have possessed a “jovial spirit,” that made him fun to be around.

“He always lit up a room,” the sister lovingly remembered.

His grandmother, Anetha Dabreo, though ailing, sang ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ at Wednesday’s funeral service.

Dabreo, a resident of Park Hill took care of Kenee in his formative years and maintained a very close relationship with her throughout his life.

His cousin, Sue Dabreo said “Kenee’s death broke our hearts.”

“We loved you so much Kenee.”

The deceased was the son of Myrna Toney of Byera and Ken Dabreo of Park Hill.

Shortly after his death last year, his mother Myrna told SEARCHLIGHT that Kenee had been in the United States for just over a year before the fatal accident.

He was the last of Toney’s three children.

The retired teacher of Byera had described her deceased son as her “love bug”.