"She never left him": Rozelle blast victims Bianka and Jude O'Brien at rest together
Bianka and Jude O'Brien, the mother and son killed in the Rozelle shop explosion, have been laid to rest together after a funeral service attended by hundreds.
Husband and father John O'Brien told the crowded church he was lost without the wife who was everything to him and the little boy who had given him purpose.
Mr O'Brien said detectives had told him the bodies of Ms O'Brien and 11-month-old Jude had been found together in the rubble of their apartment after the September 4 explosion.
"She never left him," he said.
"There was no happier place for Jude. There was nothing he wanted more than to be with his mum."
Emergency services formed a guard of honour as John O'Brien arrived to farewell his wife Bianka and son Jude. Photo: Getty
An emotional John O'Brien arrives to say goodbye to his young wife and son. Photo: Getty
On Wednesday, Ms O'Brien, 31, and her son remained united, their bodies buried together in a white coffin.
About 400 people filled St Joseph's Catholic Church at Rozelle for the funeral service. Many stood on the church steps.
A large group of police from the Leichhardt area command and firefighters attended the service and formed an honour guard as the hearse left the church.
Friends and community farewell Bianka and Jude O'Brien. Photo: 7News
Ms O'Brien's father, Bill, sobbed as he told the gathering no words could describe how the family felt.
He said Ms O'Brien had been a loving daughter, sister and mother, and Jude had been forever smiling.
His one question, he said, was "Why?".
Police are investigating the explosion, which happened in a convenience store under the O'Briens' apartment about 4am on September 4.
Mourners gather at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Rozelle. Photo: 7News
Photo: AAP
Mr O'Brien was not home, having left for work about an hour earlier.
The explosion also killed neighbour Chris Noble.
The Noble family: Chris (far left)
