Mother who lost 3 kids, dad says she can’t bear to have Christmas tree at home

NEWMARKET, Ont. – A grieving mother whose three children and father died in an alleged drunk driving crash north of Toronto says she and her husband can’t bear to have a Christmas tree at home because it reminds them of their loss.

Jennifer Neville-Lake says they set up a tree at the cemetery instead and picked out ornaments to represent each of their loved ones — a stormtrooper, a Rapunzel figurine, a character from the movie Frozen and Superman.

She says friends have also added ornaments.

Nine-year-old Daniel, Harrison, 5, and two-year-old Milly Neville-Lake were killed along with Gary Neville, 65, after the van they were in was T-boned by an SUV in Vaughan, Ont., on Sept. 27. The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother were also seriously injured in the crash.

Marco Muzzo, 29, has been charged with a dozen counts of impaired driving and six more charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle related to the incident.

He appeared in court by video link Thursday and his bail hearing has been rescheduled for Dec. 10.

Neville-Lake said she plans to attend every court hearing but notes it is “getting harder and harder” as the holidays — and Milly’s birthday — approach.

“She was our early Christmas present,” Neville-Lake said of her daughter.

The wave of support that followed the crash has held strong and Neville-Lake said she is grateful for it.

“It’s very reassuring to know our kids aren’t forgotten,” she said.