Falmouth's Owen Higgins Killed In Crash Remembered Fondly At Funeral

FALMOUTH (CBS) -- Family and friends gathered at St. Anthony's Church on Friday for the funeral of Owen Higgins, one of two Falmouth High School students killed in a Dec. 22 car crash.

Higgins, 17, and his friend James Lavin died in a crash on Thomas Landers Road. Lavin, who was driving, was killed instantly and Higgins died on Dec. 23 at Rhode Island Hospital.

Hundreds gathered in the church Friday, listening as Higgins' grandfather, George Berube, remembered him.

A void had been left by Higgins' loss, he said.

"This is Owen's life, ended unfinished. So many unfinished dreams, goals and aspirations," Berube said through tears. "We are all cheated because Owen had it, and he can no longer give it to us."

Berube rallied Falmouth's sports teams to play hard this year in Higgins' memory. Higgins played on Falmouth's hockey, football and baseball teams. Nothing would make Higgins' grandfather happier, he said, than to see all three of those teams take home state titles.

Both Lavin and Higgins were members of the Falmouth High School hockey and football teams. They had just left hockey practice when the crash happened.

Hockey coach Paul Moore said Higgins and Lavin were best friends.

A Falmouth Football jacket hung at the altar during Higgins' funeral.

The gathering remembered Higgins fondly, sharing anecdotes and lauding his character. Despite the somber occasion, the crowd laughed together through their tears.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports