Consistent with the downpour that hit La Salle this afternoon, the funeral of Denis Trento began in the church at 3pm to the somewhat gypsy and slightly folk rhythm of the ballad ‘In a rainy day’ by the Modena City Ramblers parish church of San Cassiano.
“On a rainy day I will see you again / And I will be able to console your wet eyes. / On a rainy day we will be close” recites a verse of the song which was already played years ago at the funeral of Valerio, Denis’ brother. He had never made a secret of the fact that he also loved that water that slipped down his face so many times during the thousand climbs in the mountains. And today under the umbrellas a silent and contrite crowd inside and outside the church greeted the 41-year-old Aosta Valley ski mountaineering champion, mountain guide and athlete-instructor of the Army-CSE sports centre, who died from an accidental fall on the Testa del Paramont.
He leaves behind his wife Fabienne Chanoine, his three children Séverine, Gregory and Gilbert, his mother Odette and his father Claudio, today surrounded by the sincere affection of a multitude of people.
Among the well-known and loved faces of great mountaineers such as Marco Camandona (who with Trento shared a passion for the ‘extreme’ mountains like few others) and Hervé Barmasse, those of many ordinary people who wanted to accompany Denis on his last journey. And then the lifelong friends, the athletes who were companions on outings and at the same time opponents in many races.
In his homily, Don Paolo Viganò recalled in simple and touching words how death is what gives ultimate meaning to our very existence. Accepting it, however, is obviously difficult when the person who dies is a man who would have turned 42 in a few days and is the father of three children.
Severine’s memory is extremely moving: “You are so strong and courageous that they even wanted you up there, where you are now. You did what you liked until the last minute of your life. And wherever you are I know you will have climbed all the mountains there are. Fearless. As always. We already miss you, but you are here with us and will always be.”
Then the memories of many who knew and loved Denis; then many more tears, condolences, prayers. The time will also come to understand the dynamics of the accident, the why and wherefore of yet another mountain tragedy. Not today, however; today there is only pain.
pay.
