Pheobe Bishop funeral: Private family farewell for teen whose death broke nation’s heart

A rainbow appeared in the sky above the funeral service of Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop as the family shared a touching message before saying a tearstained final farewell. SEE THE VIDEO

Family and friends comfort one another after the funeral service for Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A rainbow appeared in the sky above the funeral service of Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop as the family shared a touching message before saying a tearstained final farewell.

Security guards were posted at the entry to the service to prevent anyone other than close family and friends attending the service.

Mourners arrived dressed in bright and bold colours to honour the free-spirited Gin Gin youth.

Her funeral program featured a photo of Pheobe with a backdrop of the 12 Apostles landmark along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria with ‘Forever 17’ under the photo.

The family shared a special message of thanks to the hundreds gathered to pay their respects from the tight-knit Wide Bay communities.

“Pheobe’s family would like to thank you for your kindness and support.

“Your expressions of sympathy and thoughtfulness will always be gratefully remembered and deeply appreciated.”

After the service, hundreds lined the driveway outside as a white hearse carried Pheobe’s coffin to her final resting place as rain started to pour down.

Pheobe, the teenager whose alleged murder broke the heart of a nation, was laid to rest after she vanished on a trip to Bundaberg Airport to visit her boyfriend.

Pheobe Bishop’s heartbroken sister Kaylea is comforted after the funeral. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Her mother, Kylie Johnson, who took to social media almost every day to raise awareness around the disappearance of her daughter, was among family members saying goodbye.

The funeral tribute for Pheobe Bishop distributed at her farewell in Bundaberg.

Bundaberg experienced dark skies and heavy rain ahead of the 2pm funeral which will be followed by a private cremation at the Springfields Crematorium at Elliott Heads.

Her funeral notice said Pheobe Jade “Nanny McPhee” Bishop, of Gin Gin and formerly of Windsor, New South Wales was the ‘beloved daughter of Kylie and Ray, Kevin and Stacey. Dearly loved sister of Jamie, Jesse, Kaylea, Ruby-Leigh, Aybel and sister-in-law to Janay. Loving aunty to Tallullah. Much loved niece, cousin and friend to many”.

Funeral service for Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Ms Johnson said the family was “devastated this is something we have had to navigate”.

The funeral program for Pheobe Bishop distributed at her farewell in Bundaberg.

“This is absolutely everybody’s worst nightmare, however, we promised to get Phee home and give her a send-off that Phee would approve of and that’s what will happen,” Ms Johnson said in a statement.

“I would tell people to hug their kids a little tighter, tell them you love them multiple times a day, watch that silly movie, dance to the song and capture every moment in your memories,” she said.

Family and friends gather for the funeral service for Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Pheobe had been due to fly from Bundaberg to Perth via Brisbane on May 15 to visit her boyfriend in Western Australia, but police believe she never boarded the plane.

Queensland Police allege Pheobe’s housemates, Tanika Bromley and James Wood, drove her close to the airport in a grey Hyundai, but no one left the car.

Family and friends gather in honour of Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Pheobe was allegedly murdered and her body was moved more than once from the Good Night Scrub National Park, an hour’s drive from the airport.

Her remains were found on June 6.

Pheobe Bishop’s mum Kylie Johnson after the funeral. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Wood, 34, and Bromley, 33, remain behind bars to face court on August 11, charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.

On social media, many left messages of support for Pheobe’s family on the day of the service.

“Fly high beautiful. Too good for this cruel world and now finally at peace,’’ one woman wrote on this publication’s Facebook page.

The photo of Pheobe Bishop on the back of her funeral program.

“Thinking of your family and friends today.

Amity Joye said: “You deserved better Phee, Rest in peace sweet girl.

“May your family all hold each other as you get farewelled and allow them to grieve and heal day by day. Everyone misses you little mate,’’ Joshua Scott wrote.

“May the Angels wrap their arms around you and give you the love and peace you deserve Phoebe,’’ Denise Mac added.

Kathy McCalman said Pheobe would be ‘forever young’

“Rest in heavenly peace. You have your wings now, go fly with the angels and be free. Always be remembered.”

At a recent vigil, Ms Johnson, flanked by her daughter Kaylea, said Pheobe made no apologies for her wild heart.

Ms Johnson said her daughter “left normal and regular to explore the outskirts of magical and extraordinary” and that she would be remembered for that brilliance.

Sister Kaylea Bishop said Pheobe saw the good in everyone.

Pheobe’s boyfriend Levi, in a statement read out by a relative at the vigil, said Pheobe’s “absence echoes louder than words can say”.

“17 years a brief dance of light. Yet in that time, you touched hearts in many ways that will never fade,” he wrote.

“You were a spark, bright, bold and unafraid, as her family has shared with us today, a soul who embraced life with open arms now in the stillness we hold on to the warmth of your spirit, the kindness in your eyes and the joy in your smile.

Pheobe Bishop: “Though your journey was cut short, your impact endures with every whispered memory, with every tear shed and every heart that carries you forward.”

“Though your journey was cut short, your impact endures with every whispered memory, with every tear shed and every heart that carries you forward, you live on rest now, dear Phoebe, in the peace you deserve and know that you are loved forever and always. Love from Levi.”

Kaylea choked back tears as she told the vigil 17 years “was never enough for our life”.

Up to 400 people gather at the vigil for alleged murder victim, Pheobe Bishop in Bundaberg on Monday, June 9, 2025. Photo: Carlie Walker

“But in the short 17 years that she was with us, god she gave us a run for our bloody money. She was a cutthroat person, but she seen the good in everyone,” she said.

“If she had opinion about you, you were sure to find out about it, whether you liked it or not, but that’s just the way Phoebe was. But she was loyal to the core, to everybody she loved, respected and valued in her life.”

Pheobe Bishop surrounded by her family.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn who has led her community through one of the darkest chapters in its history – not only the disappearance of Pheobe but also the shocking loss of a three-year-old Sophia Rose who was stabbed to death by her mother at Moore Park Beach – has spoken to Ms Johnson multiple times.

Pheobe Bishop: “17 years “was never enough for our life”.

“I think as a community we’re all wondering what’s happened, what’s happened to our kind, considerate (community)– our community doesn’t feel like what it is normally, and I know that that’s how everyone’s feeling,” she said.

“But we are a kind community, and we are a community that will come together when times are tough.”

BISHOP, Pheobe Jade “Nanny McPhee”. Aged 17 years. Late of Gin Gin and formerly of Windsor, New South Wales. Beloved daughter of Kylie and Ray, Kevin and Stacey. Dearly loved sister of Jamie, Jesse, Kaylea, Ruby-Leigh, Aybel and sister-in-law to Janay. Loving aunty to Tallullah. Much loved niece, cousin and friend to many.