First Xmas without father

Photo: CTV News

Paul and Darlene Bennett are shown in a family photo.

The family of Surrey hockey coach Paul Bennett is preparing for their first Christmas without him after he was gunned down in his driveway in June in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

"It's incredibly hard. The stockings haven't gone up because I can't do that," Darlene Bennett, Paul’s widow, told CTV News this week.

Among the decorations is a tribute for the father.

"The boys put his baseball hat on top of the tree because it's our angel," Darlene said.

Paul worked as a nurse, like his wife, and was headed to a colleague's retirement party when he was shot.

His family was home and ran outside when they heard a noise.

"They came back and said, 'Something's happened to dad,' and I ran out there," Darlene recalled through tears.

"And I was… I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. My 12-year-old called 911 and I just started CPR. I tried to do everything I could but I knew he was gone."

Darlene says they will never forget that day.

"I can't erase what they've seen, I can't erase the images in my head, I can't erase the sounds that I heard. It's with me. It's going to be with me for the rest of my life," she told CTV News.

So far, no charges have been laid for the death of Paul and RCMP say an investigation remains active.

His wife hopes someone will come forward.

"Do the right thing. Do it for my kids. My kids deserve it. They need this closure," Darlene said.

with files from CTV Vancouver