At two separate memorial services over the weekend, family and colleagues honored two correctional officers who shared a tragic fate and made lasting impacts on those around them.
Nicolae Serban, aged 57, was described as a cherished, humorous, respectful, and kind-hearted individual by institution warden Lillian Kordic at his funeral on Saturday at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Kordic mentioned that even some inmates at the Edmonton Institution for Women expressed how much they missed him. Serban enjoyed engaging in sports activities such as hockey, football, soccer, and tennis, organizing sports nights with friends and friendly matches with co-workers.
Kordic shared that a colleague once mentioned that they had never seen Serban in a bad mood, highlighting his consistently positive and happy demeanor at work. Meanwhile, at the same venue on Sunday, Ramandeep Kaur Maan, aged 25, was remembered by her brother, Kamal, as intelligent and brave. He recounted how she protected him from bullies during their school days.
Maan had aspirations of building a better life in Canada, and her family incurred significant debts to support her relocation. She had plans to bring her entire family to Canada in the future. Tragically, Maan and Serban passed away on August 6 in a collision involving their Correctional Service Canada minivan and a box truck at the junction of Highway 13 and Highway 41, approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Edmonton. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the RCMP.
The crash also claimed the life of 24-year-old inmate Kiara Mooswa from Poundmaker Cree Nation near North Battleford, Sask., who was being transferred to another facility. The Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) expressed sorrow over Mooswa’s death and emphasized the importance of remembering her, despite the accountability for her past actions.
Following Maan’s funeral, Talal Dakalbab, commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, commended her dedication to her duties. He reflected on how Maan had positively impacted numerous lives and expressed her love and commitment to her work. Maan had been enthusiastic about bringing her family to Canada and encouraging her relatives and friends to pursue careers as correctional officers due to her deep satisfaction with her job.