MONTREAL — The mother of a Quebec man who died fighting Russian forces in Ukraine says her son’s “courage and big heart” made him a hero.

Émile-Antoine Roy-Sirois’ funeral was celebrated on Friday at the Ukrainian Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Montreal.

Marie-France Sirois said her son died in a bombardment in the Dombass region on July 18 along with three other foreign soldiers.

“They died as heroes, each supporting the other to the end and sharing the same beliefs,” she told the assembled crowd. The will to defend women and children and speak out against injustice was part of my son’s DNA. I’m not the first to say that.”

Ms Sirois described her 31-year-old son as generous, kind and fun. Fight in Ukraine? It was like “a phone call he couldn’t ignore”. In her opinion, Émile-Antoine was a kind of “philosopher-knight”.

“Émile wanted to make a difference and I think he succeeded. His courage and big heart made him a hero, but what comforts me the most is knowing that he was happy when he died, that he stayed true to his beliefs.

A silver urn and a soldier’s helmet with the first name “Émile” were placed on a table set up in front of the faithful. There were also two photographs of the deceased surrounded by sunflowers.

The crowd gathered in the church applauded the young man. Many of those present wore traditional Ukrainian clothing. Others had brought flags from Quebec, Canada or Ukraine.

Eugene Czolij, Ukraine’s Honorary Consul in Montreal, said Mr Roy-Sirois died a hero trying to save an injured comrade.

“Do you know that heroes like your son Émile-Antoine never die because their memory is eternal,” he told the soldier’s mother and other family members.

Arsenii Pivtorak, 19, said before the funeral that he did not know Mr Roy-Sirois when he was alive but wanted to attend the ceremony to thank him for defending Ukraine.

“To see a foreigner with no connection to Ukraine lay down his life for my people, for freedom, that’s the least we can do to be here.”

Mr Czolij says other Canadians are in Ukraine to fight Russian troops, but he doesn’t know the exact number.

Global Affairs Canada cannot say how many Canadians have died or been injured in Ukraine since the conflict began, but the department is urging citizens not to travel there.

“We take a big risk when we go to Ukraine, especially when we fight. Our ability to provide consular services is severely limited,” Global Affairs Canada wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.

Global Affairs Canada is also urging Canadians in Ukraine to leave the country if safe to do so or, if not possible, to seek shelter.