Hundreds mourned the death of Alex Zolpis, 24, at his funeral in Ottawa Thursday. (Pawel Dwulit/Canadian Press)

Hundreds of people attended the Ottawa funeral of Alex Zolpis, the young man killed in a vehicle accident in a Byward Market parking garage on Christmas Eve.

Zolpis's friend Jack Tobin — the son of former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin — has been charged in connection with his death. Neither Jack nor Brian Tobin attended the funeral.

The service began at 2 p.m. ET Thursday at St. Patrick's Basilica on Nepean Street near Kent Street.

Tearstained faces lined the crowd outside the basilica, as mourners consoled one another with hugs. Many, like Beisan Zubi, remembered Zolpis as a reliable source for a smile.

"He was hilarious," Zubi said.

"Bit of a smart aleck … always cracking jokes and a very high-spirited, very positive guy."

Childhood friend Remi Cossette was Zolpis' cottage neighbour.

"We always had fun together," Cossette said. "He was always the one that came up with the crazy ideas and all the fun stuff … he was a really good guy."

Other friends came to support the Zolpis family.

"Alex was very, very special," said Pam MacCormack. "It breaks my heart to know this family is going through this at this time."

Tobin in court in January

Zolpis's family asked for privacy at this time. They requested that people attending make donations to Mothers Against Drunk Driving instead of sending flowers.

Zolpis, 24, had reportedly been out celebrating the end of university exams with Tobin on the night of the parking-garage incident.

Tobin was charged on Dec. 25 with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death, as well as driving over the legal limit resulting in a death.

He was released on a $100,000 bond under strict conditions not to drink, drive, or contact anyone connected to Zolpis. He is scheduled to appear in court again in January.