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He fled Guatemala in the early 1990s when his community was devastated by the civil war and genocide of Maya peoples like him. He arrived in Vancouver in 1993, planted deep roots in the Downtown Eastside and became a permanent resident of Canada last August.

Mayan Elder Alejandro Ruiz told mourners that Cristobal-Esteban was among thousands of displaced Guatemalans who wound up in Canada, leaving behind family who had moved to the highlands to work in the coffee plantations.

Ruiz said it was difficult for them to arrive in a country so different but Cristobal-Esteban nurtured his Mayan culture here and shared it with others through gardening, language and music.

“Jesus gave some examples to us,” Ruiz said. “That seed that he planted, I think each of you will carry it in the future.”

Ingrid Mendez, executive director of the Watari Counselling & Support Services Society, said she was fortunate to have known Cristobal-Esteban for two decades.

“We’re certainly going to miss Jesus for many things,” Mendez said during an emotional speech. “But one thing that we’re going to miss for sure is his big smile, that big smile that he gave to everyone, everyone that is here.”

Mendez said Cristobal-Esteban was always happy at Watari, Oppenheimer Park and Sole Food Street Farms where he worked.

“He planted not only flowers, not only vegetables for us to eat, he planted love,” she said. “He touched every single heart out there, he knew everybody and everybody knew him. I get phone calls, emails from people I didn’t know saying how much they miss him and how much they love him.