Lilie James funeral: Water polo coach killed at St Andrew’s Cathedral School farewelled
Lilie James’ father has remembered his daughter’s kind and vibrant spirit as friends and family farewelled the young water polo coach who was killed at an elite Sydney school last month.
NSW
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Hundreds of mourners dressed in brightly coloured outfits have arrived at a memorial service to farewell 21-year-old Lilie James, who was brutally murdered last month.
Her friends and family carried in bunches of lilies in her honour, hugging and sharing tearful glances as they arrived.
Among the 500 guests at Danebank School for Girls was Premier Chris Minns, who arrived to pay his respects with a staffer from his office.
Lilie James was bashed inside the staff bathrooms at St Andrew’s Cathedral School on October 25 by ex-boyfriend and colleague Paul Thijssen.
Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville,where Miss James spent her high school years, hosted the private memorial on Friday. The funeral was being livestreamed back to St Andrews.
In a touching tribute to his daughter, Jamie James remembered Lilie’s kind and vivacious spirit.
“She was an independent, vibrant young woman who was always on the go and lived each day to the fullest,” he said.
“On top of working and studying Lilie loved coaching and playing water polo. She loved to dance.
“Even with her busy schedule, she always still made time to support her brother Max, her friends and her family.”
Mr James said the funeral was not about sadness or the circumstances of how Lilie died, instead it was a celebration of his only daughter’s life.
“Today we are celebrating the life of Lilie James,” he said.
“This day is all about her.”
In his tribute, the heartbroken dad thanked the community for their support following his daughter’s tragic death.
“From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for the many great memories we all share of Lilie,” he said.
“Lilie James we are so proud of you and thank you for sharing a wonderful and jam-packed 21 and a half years together.”
Earlier, dozens of schoolchildren in uniform from all year groups at St Andrew’s streamed out of a school bus and waited patiently to show their respects.
One boy led the group holding a bouquet of flowers in blue, red and yellow, before they were ushered inside the school gate.
Thirty minutes before the crowds began streaming in, the 21-year-old’s coffin was brought in to the school.
Several White Lady funeral directors began the procession, leading her body to the chapel.
Miss James’ body was found just before midnight on October 25, after Thijssen, 24, made a chilling phone call to triple-0 to alert them of the gruesome scene inside the school.
Just hours earlier he chased Miss James into a bathroom with a hammer and killed her after she returned sport equipment to the college following a session with students.
Police traced Thijssen’s emergency phone call to Diamond Bay in Vaucluse, however they could not locate him. A manhunt was commenced, and his body was found in waters at the base of the cliffs 36 hours later.
The pair had been dating for about five-weeks, however it’s understood Miss James ended the relationship in the days prior to the murder.
Thijssen worked at the school as a sports assistant, and had been a student at St Andrew’s for Years 11 and 12.
The school was closed to students for two days following the tragic incident, however reopened on the following Monday, with the foyer becoming a makeshift memorial for Miss James.
Earlier this month, St Andrew’s announced it would demolish the bathrooms where the tragedy occurred.
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