A memorial service tomorrow will honour four people who lost their lives in Hurricane Fabian.

Serving police officers Stephen Symons and Nicole O’Connor, station duty officer Gladys Saunders and Manuel Pacheco, a Corporation of Hamilton employee, died after they were swept off the Causeway during the hurricane on September 5, 2003.

Kevin Santucci, Ms Saunders’s brother, said: “The service is just to take time to recognise lives that were lost and reflect on our blessings, recognise that we were not forgotten and how we were spared.”

Dr Santucci, a chaplain, said his sister was strong and no-nonsense on and off-duty.

He explained: “If my mother did not put me in line, then [Gladys] certainly did, when she opened up her mouth to family members, you know it was no let down.

“She was a strong woman who loved to be around people, people loved to be around her, she loved sports, her family, her grandchildren — if she were alive today, they would be the cream of her heart, they meant the world to her.”

Dr Santucci said the hurricane marked a “monumental moment” for Bermuda and believes that God protected many people during the storm.

He explained: “Four passed away, but … if you look at the damage of places and the fact that no one else was injured, that speaks great volumes not just of our building codes, but also the hand of someone greater looking over us.

“The hurricane was originally Category 5, but dropped to Category 3 when it hit the island.”

Dr Santucci and others called for the Government to build a new Causeway since Fabian, but have not yet been successful.

He said: “To see the day after Hurricane Fabian, people carrying their luggage across the Causeway to leave the island was not a good sight.

“We have to consider all things moving forward, but at the same time, reflecting is very important with the strength to be able to press on.”

A granite bench in Kindley Field Park pays tribute to the four victims. Tomorrow’s service will take place at this memorial starting at 2pm.

Dr Santucci said: “People should come, bring a flower, put it in the ocean in remembrance of their family member, friend, colleague, or just in memory of the victims whom they may not have even known.”