Hundreds of people attended a memorial Thursday afternoon for Lisa Gibson and her children, two-year-old Anna and three-month-old Nicholas.

Mourners filled the private service for family and friends at Mackenzie Funeral Chapel in Stonewall, just north of Winnipeg, along with a spillover room at a Royal Canadian Legion hall next door.

Mourners hugged and wiped away tears following the service. Those who attended asked for privacy, but said speakers at the service described Lisa as a good person and a loving mother.

Anna and Nicholas were found unresponsive in the bathtub of their home in Winnipeg’s Westwood neighbourhood on July 24.

They were rushed to hospital but died. Police believe Gibson was the last person with them.

Gibson’s body was found days later in the Red River.

A public vigil was also slated for Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at The Forks in Winnipeg. The vigil will be held near where Gibson’s body was found.

People were asked to bring candles and white flowers.

“The river is just a sign of depression and mental illness and if we can throw a flower in as just a sign of light in a dark place,” said Karla Penner, who helped plan the vigil.

She didn’t personally know the family but wanted to show support for them and the community.

The deaths of Lisa, Anna and Nicholas have touched many in Winnipeg.

“I think the community has understood that this was the case of a loving mother who was in complete psychiatric trouble,” said ethicist Arthur Schaefer.

Karla Penner hopes the vigil will give community members affected by the tragedy the chance to process their grief and discuss change for the future.

“I think it’s quite proper for a demand that answers be given and if there are systemic problems that they be dealt with,” said Schaefer.

Gibson's family had previously asked that anyone wanting to make a donation to offer support to the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.

There will be staff from the association available for support after the vigil on Aug. 1.

An investigation by the chief medical examiner into the deaths is expected to last until the fall. It has said it will be late fall before there's a decision on whether to call a provincial inquest, which would include sworn testimony from medical experts and others in open court.

- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg and files from The Canadian Press