Ryan Jimmo was remembered as "a happy person" at his funeral in Saint John, N.B. on Thursday.

About 700 people packed Our Lady of the Assumption church for the service for the 34-year-old former UFC fighter who was killed in a hit-and-run in Edmonton on June 26.

He was happy in his skin, as they say. - Msgr. Brian Sheehan

"Ryan lived his life happily," said Msgr. Brian Sheehan in his homily. "He was happy by nature, he was happy in his skin, as they say.

"His love of life, his love of people was infectious," said Sheehan. "People were naturally drawn to him.

"All this doesn't happen unless you are loved, loved from the beginning.

"Ryan knew he was greatly loved."

Mother of Ryan Jimmo speaks about ex-UFC fighter after funeral. 0:42 Sheehan said Jimmo kept in touch with his mother in Saint John every day.

"When they said goodbye, she would say, "I love you Ryan.' And his perennial answer was always 'I love you more,'" said Sheehan

Jimmo was cremated and his ashes were placed in an urn resembling a chess board. Sheehan noted Jimmo played all kinds of sports then found "the second great love, the game of chess."

Jimmo went by the name of "The Big Deal" when fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is perhaps best remembered for knocking out Anthony Perosh in seven seconds at UFC 149, triggering a celebration that saw him do both the robot and the splits.

Sheehan noted the Jimmo was "taught the sport that became his life by none other than his own father, Paul."

Jimmo learned karate first from his father, who is a sixth-degree black belt.

"Ryan started winning tournaments and became the Canadian karate junior champion in 1997. He was only 16."

The 34-year-old former UFC fighter was killed early on June 26 in Edmonton in a hit-and-run in the parking lot of the H2O Lounge on Whyte Avenue.

Jimmo had approached a pickup truck on foot, said police, and when he began to walk away the pickup accelerated and struck him from behind before leaving the scene.

About 700 people packed Our Lady of Assumption church in Saint John, N.B., Thursday for Ryan Jimmo's funeral. (Catherine Harrop/CBC) Outside the service, friend Mike Goguen said he was "still in shock."

"For a guy that made his living as a fighter, he was the first guy who would try to break up a fight," said Goguen. "Countless times at the bar, he'd be outside talking people out of fights. Always."

Mother Linda Jimmo said the response to her son's death has been "overwhelming."

"So many wonderful stories and how wonderful he say," she said after the service.

"It's just very overwhelming for this little boy who grew up in Saint John, N.B. And he was mine."

Anthony Getschel, 23, has been charged with second-degree murder, criminal negligence causing death, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving death.