BARRIE - Hundreds of mourners gathered at St. Mary's church this morning to say a final goodbye to Brandon Crisp.

His grieving parents, arms linked and heads bowed, walked solemnly behind his casket as they entered the church. His sisters' sobs were audible throughout the church. Two rooms were set up to accommodate the flood of people.

Fifteen-year-old Brandon left his Hickling Trail home on Oct. 13 after a fight with his parents over his Xbox video game. He was an avid player of Call of Duty 4 and had just been grounded from playing. He left at 3 p.m. and asked for directions to Shanty Bay. He was seen by two witnesses that afternoon, then he disappeared.

His yellow mountain bike was found a week later on the Oro Rail Trail in Shanty Bay, and his body was discovered by deer hunters on Nov. 5.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was a trauma to the chest, likely from falling from a tree.

Yesterday, his sister Natasha shared her memories of Brandon during a news conference at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home.

"He wasn't just an average guy, he was above-average. He was incredibly funny, even if you were annoyed with him," she said.

Natasha had earlier called Brandon her hero, and said yesterday that was because of his ability to touch so many lives.

"He touched so many people, even (though) he lived a short life."

The family admitted there are not so many laughs at their home anymore, because Brandon was the comedian of the family, always playing practical jokes.

In front of the media, father Steve Crisp read a statement before taking questions.

"Our family believes everything happens for a reason," said father Steve Crisp in a statement read to the media. "It's hard to understand the death of a child, but it makes us realize love and life are not to be taken for granted."

The incredible outpouring of love and support from the community is touching, he said.

The family is dealing with the situation day by day, and working on the Brandon Crisp Foundation of Hope will help. It's a foundation in the works that will help allow underprivileged kids a chance to play in minor sports. It's a partnership with Canadian Tire's JumpStart program.

"My son played hockey, he was a goalie and he was little shorter than the other kids," Steve Crisp said, noting that because of the height disadvantage, Brandon was eventually moved off the team.

"I think every child should be able to play whenever they want to play."

He also said he hopes Brandon's story teaches other parents to never take anything for granted.

"We've heard hundreds of the same stories across Canada. This is a new world we live in and parents need to understand that (video game) world a bit more, and make kids understand we find it hard to realize they don't want to go out and play sports. I think families have to work around that now."