Some of us may never have heard of Carlo Cassels, but when his family mourns his death this Saturday they will have to book the Methodist Commemoration Hall because the church they belong to, the Cathedral, will be too small to hold all the people devastated by his death.
Some of us may never have heard of Carlo Cassels, but when his family mourns his death this Saturday they will have to book the Methodist Commemoration Hall because the church they belong to, the Cathedral, will be too small to hold all the people devastated by his death.
Cassels lost his life in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning outside of Grahamstown in his silver Audi.
The car swerved off theroad and Cassels was killed while his two passengers escaped with minor injuries. Cassels lived most of his life in Grahamstown, he was educated at St Mary’s Catholic School and at Graeme College, and he worked for the South African Social Security Agency.
After hours he would help is father with the running of the family business Cassels Funeral services. This week his family and friends talked about him to Grocott’s Mail.
Since his death his family has been running prayer meetings at their house daily and every meeting has been packed with community members giving their condolences.
Gershwin Sauls, a close friend, said: “Carlo brought so many of us together and he loved his friends like they were his family. Carlo was
the cement that held us all together.” Brent Williams, a relative, described him as having a “strong legacy of caring for people”. He was known among his friends as Cakes” or “Koeks” and they could always rely on him tob drop whatever he was doing and help out, says Williams.
Melissa de Souza, Carlo’s sister, said she could call on him for anything. Carlo was a standard feature at The Greens over weekends, hanging around the parked cars and chatting. Although he wasn’t a student at Rhodes he was a strong supporter of campus sports and social events.
Another friend, LeeSharn Rose will always remember Cassels for their visits to Spur, Where Cassels would tell her: “Let’s have a Spur special, you have the burger and I’ll have the onion rings.” She will also remember how just his presence made anyone around him smile and laugh.
He had many friends but he still held a special place in his heart for his family. He had a particular soft spot for his two nieces, Courtney (5) and Cazlynne (6). Courtney is very sad that her favourite uncle did not get a chance to say goodbye to her.
Dasiree, his mother, said simply: “Carlo was just Carlo.”Someone who was humble yet strong, courageous yet compassionate.
He leaves behind both his parents, a sister, two brothers and two nieces. The funeral service will be held on Saturday at 1pm at the Methodist Commemoration Hall in High Street. The service will be followed by a burial at the New Cemetery.
Carlo’s friends and family are requested to wear black and red to the service because those were his favourite colours.
