AJAX, ON -- Joshua Yasay was the kind of student whose photograph still hangs in his Grade 12 religion teacher's classroom.

He was the kind of worker who would offer his fellow workers a ride when they could only walk home.

He was the kind of friend you introduced to your five-year-old son and then marvelled over how well they got along.

"Words can't do him justice," former co-worker Tara said before she went inside McEachnie Funeral Home for Sunday's viewing, lips trembling.

The red-brick funeral east of Toronto housed family members and friends grieving for the 23-year-old whose life was abruptly cut short in last Monday's Danzig Street shooting, along with Shyanne Charles, 14. Another 21 party-goers were wounded.

Two police cars were parked outside, almost as if to remind people he was on his way to becoming one of them.

Yasay worked as a security guard in downtown Toronto and volunteered with at-risk youth in his free time.

He graduated with a BA in criminology from York University last year and his dream was to become a police officer. He had also recently opened a hair salon with friends in Ajax, Ont., east of Toronto.

His Grade 12 teacher, Ann Drewery, remembers the shock she felt when she found out he was killed in a hail of bullets at the community barbecue.

"I saw his picture on the news and I just was floored by it," Drewery said.

With a son the same age, she said she came on Sunday to quietly pay her respects to the boy who would always sit in the front of her classroom.

"I believe he was an honour roll student in my class," Drewery said. "I'm here because I remember him being a really nice boy."

She says she intends on using his story in her Grade 12 ethics class.

Matt Blair used to work with Yasay at a McDonald's restaurant until 18 months ago.

"He was a very fun guy, he always liked to joke around," Blair remembered. "He would offer me rides, give me some change and stuff for meals -- he was always there just to help out."

Another of Yasay's colleagues, Omar, introduced his young son, also named Joshua, to Yasay recently. He says he was surprised when the two hit it off despite the age difference.

"His smile, the last Friday I saw him, it was so piercing," he said. "In my memory, I couldn't shake the guy."

A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Ajax.