Service honours lives of love
It came towards the end of the funeral of Maureen Horstman and her daughter Tamara.
And it captured what all those gathered at the east chapel at Pinnaroo Cemetery were feeling about the women they had come to farewell yesterday.
As a long line of mourners softly placed petals on the caskets of mother and daughter, the words of the song which filled the room hung in the air.
"Nothing compares, to you ... ."
The pair had died tragically, allegedly killed by an intruder at their Warwick home last month. But celebrant Glen Tully had urged mourners not to dwell on the tragic circumstances.
"The reason we are here today is because the lives of this mother and this daughter were taken so suddenly, so tragically and so painfully… too soon," he said.
"We all know the circumstances of Maureen and Tamara's passing, and in this knowledge, I'm sure we bring many, many varied feelings, emotions, thoughts to this ceremony today."
But before that tragic morning the women had lived their lives separate from the act of violence that had taken them so suddenly.
Feelings of anger, resentment, rage, revenge, pain and suffering did not represent the lives of two beautiful women.
He believed Maureen would like to be remembered as the loving, devoted, animal-loving, conscientious mother that she was.
And Tamara would like to be remembered as a hard-working, partying hard, studious, loyal and loving daughter and friend. So mourners heard from family and friends about lives filled with laughter, love and good times.
They heard about Maureen's love of travel, adventures on a scooter in Greece, her lifelong love of animals and her devotion to her children.
They heard about Tamara's quick wit, intelligence, humour, passion, independence, and love of chocolate, and that today was to have been her university graduation day.
Amid the sea of black worn by mourners came a small but telling symbol. Many wore small white ribbons to show their opposition to violence against women.
