Nicholas Bertoncello was to wed fiancee Melissa McCoy on 10 July. More than 420 people farewelled him at a service at St Michael’s Church in Berwick last week. Picture supplied
By Melissa Grant
LOYAL, thoughtful and creative. That’s how family and friends will remember Nicholas Ronald Bertoncello – a young man whose life was cut tragically short after a motorcycle accident near Perth last month.
Nicholas’ mother, Pamela, and fiancee, Melissa McCoy, have described the former St Francis Xavier College student as a kind and honest soul who idolised his grandparents and loved the outdoors.
The fully qualified plumber died in his prime – he was 23 and set to wed Melissa in Perth on 10 July.
Nicholas was riding his motorbike to Fremantle for a late lunch on Sunday 22 February with Melissa and Andrew, who were travelling behind him, when the tragedy unfolded.
A young woman travelling in the car that collided with Nicholas’ motorcycle also died as a result of the crash.
Nicholas and Melissa moved from Beaconsfield to Swan View, about 30 minutes from Perth, with their puppy Tex last June.
The couple planned to travel to the Northern Territory, Central Australia and Cairns before moving back to the Berwick area to settle down and have a family.
Pamela said her son went to WA because it was one of few places she and her husband Ronny hadn’t taken him.
“I remember saying this to him: ‘Why do you have to go to WA? It’s so far away? … It’s like you will never come home from there. He said, ‘don’t be silly, mum, once I have half a dozen kids I will be back around the corner and you’ll have to mind them all.”
Nicholas, a practicing Catholic, worked as a plumber in Perth, while Melissa was employed at a childcare centre.
He began his apprenticeship in 2004, following in the footsteps of his uncles and grandfathers who were also plumbers.
Nicholas was named apprentice of the year in his first year – a feat his parents were extremely proud of. He spent his apprenticeship with Danny King, of King’s Plumbing.
Although he touched a lot of hearts, few people knew the real Nicholas.
“Nicholas was a shy quiet boy who gravitated towards older people, he was very loyal in his friendships,” Pamela said. “Nicholas was a nice kid, he was a good family man, and he loved his grandparents – all three – even though one had passed away. He loved children, he loved animals … he was always a bit of a funny, cheeky boy really with a beautiful smile.”
Melissa said Nicholas loved four-wheel-driving, camping and motorbikes, but was also a neat-freak.
“He was loving, thoughtful, neat, tidy – he was neat Nicholas – and he was very creative … he was always making things,” she said.
Pamela said her family and Melissa had been overwhelmed by the support of the friends, family and St Francis, St Catherine’s and St Michael’s schools and parishes, over the past fortnight.
“The help and the kindness that everyone has shown us has just blown us away,” Pamela said.
More than 420 people farewelled Nicholas at St Michael’s Church in Berwick on Tuesday 3 March.
The service, led by Father Hugh Brown, Father Peter Slater and Father Brendan Murphy, included readings from Pamela, Ronny, Melissa and Nicholas’ siblings Michelle, 22, Cameron, 21, and Christopher, 19.
Nicholas was then laid to rest at Berwick Cemetery.
Pamela said her son’s death highlighted the need for motorists and motorcyclists to look out for each other on the road.
“There’s some poor parents out there getting the same phone call, knock on the door,” she said. “No one should have to go through what we’re going through … it’s unnecessary.”
