Brother sings farewell to ‘fun-loving’ Abi
A touching musical tribute yesterday farewelled a “fun-loving, extroverted 12-year-old girl who enjoyed life” before she was killed in a triple-fatal car crash last weekend.
Around 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 on May 31.
Her younger brother Paddy Hone yesterday sang several songs in tribute — including Lorde’s hit — to his sister.
And a band of youngsters that Rangi Ruru pupil Abi herself had sung with, The Project, gave a touching performance, with Paddy taking his sister’s place.
Two of Abi’s closest friends, Imogen Bell and Alice Elworthy also sang in her memory.
The two-hour funeral service was held at Sumner School, which both Abi and Ella had attended.
Darren Wright, the Hone family spokesman, said children in attend- ance 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 was held inside the school hall, which overflowed into a large marquee, with loudspeakers and TV screens.
Musical interludes were interspersed with speakers, including father Trevor Hone and brother Ed, paying tribute to Abi.
Mr Hone recalled how they used to tell each other, ‘‘I love you’’, when- ever they left the room. He reminded the gathering of the importance of taking the time to tell their family members how much they loved them.
Mr Wright said the Hone family wanted people to “recognise just how easy life can be taken from us”.
And one thing the family could take heart from out of the tragedy, Mr Wright said, is that when Abi died, she was “one of the most loved little girls that could be around”.
Afterwards, the specially-made coffin decorated in polka dots with ‘‘Abi’’ painted on its end, was carried out of the hall by family members, including Mr Hone.