Hundreds Remember Fairport Senior Blake Cognata
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: January 17, 2013
A Fairport teen's year-long battle with cancer touched many.
It
was evident in the hundreds of people who attended his funeral
service in Fairport this afternoon.
Members of the Moroe County Sheriff's Office and local police held an honor guard outside of St. John of Rochester Church in Fairport.
Blake's father is a retired Monroe County Sheriff Deputy.
St. John of Rochester church filled with close to 900 people.
Some people had to watch services from a nearby gym, while hundreds of others
Some had to watch services from a nearby gym, while hundreds of others watched a feed from the high school.
His football and lacrosse teammates showed up wearing their uniforms.
Blake was remembered as a strong man who a sensitive spirit.
They said you could always hear him humming or whistling, even through his pain.
Kerri Sawyer was one of Blake's nurses at Strong Hospital.
She said he deserves all of the support and love that he has received.
Sawyer said losing a patient never gets easier.
"He was awesome a great guy, always bright. he was always willing to put a smile on everyone's face no matter what. We would have talks and laughs and hang out, he was amazing, we are going to miss him a lot," said Kerri Sawyer, Blake's nurse.
Members of the Fairport community say they are too familiar with loss and coming together gets them through.
"He was very strong, very heartful, just all around great guy. Always smiled, never had a bad bone in his body," said Casey Sens, a family friend.
Wegmans donated food for the reception following the day's funeral.
Fundraising continues for the family, in honor of Blake.
