EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WKBW) — "A village of love" is how Dejon Hamann described the East Aurora community and the outpouring of support his neighbors have shown his family following the tragic passing of his son.
19-year-old Jett Hamann was hit and killed by a train in East Aurora on October 30.
Last week we sat down with Dejon who told us more about his son and his passion for community and the culinary arts.
“He was more than just my son, he was my best friend,” Dejon said. You can watch our previous report below and read more here.
The East Aurora community showed their love and support and said goodbye to Jett together on Thursday night.
Work friends who became family is how Dante, Danielle and Morgan described him. The void he left has left his friends devastated.
"He just made every day a day to look forward to," Dante Lamarti said.
Pictures of Jett lit up the room at his memorial Thursday at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora.
Lamarti said Jett's kind demeanor is what he loved the most about him.
"Jett was one of the kindest, purest souls I had ever met in my entire life. He was unapologetically himself. There was nothing you could do or say to get him to be anything that he wasn't already. The kid was unique, very special and there will never be another Jett," Lamarti explained.
Danielle Steck said it was his dry sense of humor.
"He made a lot of jokes that maybe a lot of people wouldn't understand. He just always made you feel seen and special," Steck shared.
Morgan Mann told me they also knew how much cooking with his dad meant to him.
"I know him and his dad were making bagels. We would all go to the markets they had and buy bagels. He'd come to pool parties with us. We had a beach day together, a few of us," Mann said.
Now they hold on to those cherished memories of Jett through pictures and notes.
"To see him grow at work and then to see him outside of work, just having fun with all of us, it really felt like family. I feel like we're all family so to have Jett be a part of that, it was special," Mann said.
A GoFundMe created to support the Hamann family has surpassed its goal of $10,000. It has now reached more than $16,000 in four days.
