Mum: I will see you in every sunset
Hundreds farewell vibrant and ambitious 11-year-old who died in skifield bus crash
As the words to Paparazzi by Lady Gaga came over the speakers, hundreds of mourners gathered donning yellow tributes — flower crowns, tutus and daffodil lapels.
Yellow was the favourite colour of Hannah Teresa Francis, the kindhearted 11-year-old who died from injuries suffered after a bus rolled near Tu¯roa skifield on July 28.
Hannah was farewelled at Morrison Funeral Home in West Auckland yesterday.
Members of Hannah’s family and her school community spoke of the loss of a promising and ambitious young girl, but focus was on the passionate and vibrant life she lived.
Her school friends sat around her small white casket, as family told tales of Hannah’s love of animals, her creative hobbies of drawing and art, her fascination with elephants and unicorns, and a love of reading.
Hannah’s mother Michelle Bruton spoke of a very academic girl, doing well at school and always getting involved in cultural activities, such as the Samoan club.
Bruton said she would be remembered fondly for her kindness, generosity, and her ability to comprehend how others felt.
“She had a warm, kind soul that shone out of her in every way when dealing with people,” she said.
Bruton said there were no words to explain the bond she had with her daughter, and how being Hannah’s mother was something she would cherish forever.
“You were only here for such a short time, but made an impact,” she said.
“I will see you in every rainbow and sunset.”
The emotional ceremony continued as further stories of the vibrant, quirky and humorous young girl were told by uncles and aunts.
Glen Eden Intermediate School principal Maree Stavert placed handmade paper cranes on the coffin as she read tributes from Hannah’s classmates.
As a member of Room 19 she was remembered as always putting her best foot forward and giving 100 per cent, being kind and caring, and the little drawings of cats and unicorns she did in her books.
“Hannah was the sun in your day, she will leave a large hole that will never be filled,” Stavert said.
Hannah’s stepmother Christina Francis said she would never forget the moment she introduced Hannah to her two stepbrothers Joshua and Caleb.
“The three became best buddies . . . she was always the peacemaker who put others’ needs before her own,” she said.
Hannah had dreamt about working with animals and becoming a designer. She was also looking forward
to a trip to the United States next year. “She had planned to eat her way down the American coast and had a list of all the places she wanted to go,” Francis said. Hannah’s father Matthew Francis was the last to speak, stating that he had been the proudest father since
the day she was born. He said the pair always went on adventures, from a day in the park to a scenic flight around Auckland.
“As hard as it is to talk about, Ruapehu holds lots of special memories for us,” he said through tears.
“It is where we went for our first family holiday and Hannah was developing into a good little skier.
“There are so many things you
won’t get to do, but I am so proud of who you are and the legacy you left,” he said.
The ceremony ended with a slideshow of photos of Hannah that were played alongside the Pharrell Williams song Happy.
Hannah died after the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bus she was travelling in with her father and stepbrother crashed on the afternoon of July 28.