Daughter of drowning victims remembers her parents

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Hampton Ponds neighborhood is mourning the loss of Daniel and Patricia Cyr, who drowned in a boating accident on the pond Monday night.

The couple lived in their waterfront home for nearly four decades, and drown last night trying to save their puppy after it jumped in the water.

Daniel and Patricia's children and grandchildren spent Tuesday night together, in the house their parents built; the home they all grew up in.

The Cyrs' youngest daughter remembered her parents Tuesday, in her own words.

“It was rare that she went out. We don't know why she went out with him. I think it was just meant to be. They had to go together. They needed to be together. If one died without the other… We all feel that way about our spouses,” said The Cyrs’ youngest daughter, Miranda Landry.

“They were always our role model. It wasn't always easy. They let us know marriage wasn't always easy. But they stuck it out.”

“My father was an animal person. He volunteered at the Forest Park Zoo. He especially liked the camels. Max and Fergie were his buddies,” she said.

“Mom was quiet. Mom was just, always mom. Taking care of dad and taking care of the grandkids.”

“We have to keep the house. It was built by my father. Every table, every cabinet, every molding, was built by hand by him. It's our home,” Miranda said.

“They were always there. They were there for almost every birth of their grandchildren. They were there to help us raise them. They loved their grandchildren so much. They just spent so much time with them. They were just so proud of them,” she said.

“My parents were wonderful people. They taught all of us about love and relationships. They were really happy to see all three of us in healthy relationships, with families and houses and jobs. Just successful in our own ways.”

“My parents are done. They have nothing, no regrets. Nothing that they left undone. They've just built a beautiful family,” said Miranda.

This Christmas Eve would have been the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. Their children and grandchildren will spend the holiday together in the family home. Miranda told me both of her parents were organ donors, and even after their death they are still giving the gift of life to others.