Brother sings a final song to fun-loving Abi
A touching musical tribute farewelled a “fun- loving, extroverted 12-year-old girl who enjoyed life” before she was killed in a horror triple-fatal car crash on May 31.
About 2000 mourners, including many school children, paid their respects at Abi Hone’s funeral at her old primary school in Christchurch yesterday.
Abi died alongside her best friend Ella Summerfield, also 12, and Ella’s mum Sally, 49, after a Dutch tourist allegedly ran a stop sign in rural Canterbury.
Her younger brother Paddy Hone was “mind-bogglingly brave” in singing several tribute songs, including Lorde’s hit Royals, to his sister.
A band of youngsters which Rangi Ruru pupil Abi herself had sung with, The Project, gave a touching performance, with Paddy taking his sister’s place.
The two-hour funeral service was held at Sumner School where Abi and Ella attended as recently as last year.
Darren Wright, the Hone family spokesman, said children in attendance were from Sumner School, Rangi Ruru, St Margaret’s (where Ella went to school), Christ’s College and St Bede’s. “It just goes to show the breadth of hurt that’s been felt right across the city,” Mr Wright said.
“It was a real celebration of Abi’s life.”
The service included eight musical interludes which were interspersed with speakers, including father Trevor Hone and brother Ed.
Mr Hone recalled how they used to tell each other, “I love you”, whenever they left the room. He reminded the gathering of the importance of taking the time to tell family members how much they loved them.
The funerals for Ella and Sally Summerfield will be held at the same venue on Thursday.
Johannes Jacobus Appelman, 52, has been charged with careless driving causing death in relation to the crash.
— APNZ