He always wanted to travel in life, but Dean McLean never got the chance.
He will in death.
The former Coldstream resident died Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster from a severe head injury sustained Oct. 13 when he was struck by a car in Maple Ridge.
“We decided as a family to have Dean cremated and we’re going to scatter his ashes all over the world,” said McLean’s only sister, Dawn Goldie, Wednesday.
“This month, some of the ashes will be scattered in Africa (McLean was to join a group there to build an orphanage) and Honduras. In January or February, some will be scattered in Hawaii and in March, some will be scattered in Egypt.
“He never wanted to be in one spot, ever, so we thought burying him would just be traumatizing for him, you know? He’s going to be everywhere.”
McLean had been working as a garbage truck driver when he was struck outside of his vehicle at around 8:30 a.m. Oct. 13.
He never regained consciousness from the incident.
His immediate family, along with aunts, uncles and cousins, was at his side when McLean died.
A memorial service for McLean will be held tonight in Vernon at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1506-35th Street.
The family is asking those who would like to attend to help them create a memory book in honour of McLean.
“There are just huge parts of his life that not everyone was a part of, so we just want the stories that everyone else has,” said Goldie.
“Stories that they loved about Dean, they can write them down and bring them, along with any pictures they want to share, and we’ll put them in the book.”