More than a decade after Georgina Papin vanished from Vancouver, her remains have been returned to home to Alberta. The remains were returned to the woman's family by B.C. authorities who used her remains as evidence in their case against Robert Pickton.
Papin was born on the Enoch reserve west of Edmonton. Her remains were found on Pickton's Port Coquitlam pig farm in 2002, and she was one of six victims the serial killer was convicted of murdering. Papin disappeared from Vancouver's east side in 1999.
Her family now wants to celebrate her memory and held a wake Thursday at Sacred Heart Church. The woman has seven siblings, but three of them weren't allowed to attend the service because they are behind bars.
George, Rick and Tammy Papin are currently awaiting trial on various offences including, drug possession and assault with a weapon.
The family requested escorted passes but was turned down.
"I've been waiting 11 years to end this... it's closure for me," Rick said by phone at the Remand Centre.
Papin's older sister Cynthia Cardinal says the family should be together during this difficult time.
"We should all be there, they want to be there. They won't let them come," she said.
Rick says he is still haunted by what happened to his sister.
"I can still picture what happened to her, the pig farm. My mind, it just goes nuts sometimes," he said.
Photos and flowers along with the 34-year-old's death certificate were on display in the church's basement.
A second wake will be held Friday in Hobbema followed by a funeral on Saturday.
"As far as complete closure that's not ever going to happen because of the upcoming public inquiry," said Cynthia.
An inquiry was ordered by B.C.'s attorney general. The hearings will examine if mistakes were made in the investigations into the disappearance of dozens of women from Vancouver's east side. A date has not yet been set.
With files from Susan Amerongen
