Mourners gather to farewell Lily, in second Buxton crash funeral

Balloons lined the streets as hundreds mourned Lily Van De Putte, and her parents recalled their beautiful, compassionate ‘purest joy’ daughter, who loved flamingoes … and Bunnings.

Generous, compassionate, beautiful and talented: Lily Van De Putte was many things to the many people who knew her.

Ten days after she and four friends — Tyrese Bechard, Summer Williams, Antonio Desisto and Gabriella McLennan — were killed in a car crash at Buxton, an estimated 400 friends and family gathered in Tahmoor on Friday to farewell the 14-year-old in a deeply moving funeral service.

Heavy overnight rain gave way to a spectacular and clear sunny sky ahead of the 2pm service, with mourners gathering from 1pm.

They travelled through streets lined with balloons in honour of the beloved teen and her friends.

Lily’s white casket, decorated with flamingoes and adorned with dozens of flowers, was removed from the hearse and wheeled into the church, moments before her father John arrived, flanked by Lily’s brother Kaleb, sister Britany, and mother Melanie.

Balloons line the streets of Tahmoor ahead of the funeral of Lily Van De Putte.

In a moving tribute to his daughter, John said the talented artist and sportswoman excelled at gymnastics, soccer and athletics, but it was her “wicked sense of humour” for which she would be remembered.

“Anyone who knew me knew how much Lily meant to me,” he said.

Lily’s father is comforted outside the church. Picture: BACKGRID via NCA NewsWire

“She was the light of my life,” he said.

“I know as a parent we all think are children are wonderful. Lily was not a Rhode scholar, far from it, but she was worldly in what she gained in her everyday life skills.”

He recalled his daughter’s generous heart, including the day she gave money to a young boy at school who couldn’t afford to buy a present from the father’s day stall.

LOVED FLAMINGOES … AND BUNNINGS

He also spoke fondly of Lily’s “wicked sense of humour”, which coincided with her love of flamingoes and her favourite place — Bunnings.

The loves collided when she bought a flamingo from Bunnings and put it in their front yard.

“She loved it … her mother and me, we hated them,” he said.

Lily’s family arrives at the service. Picture: BACKGRID via NCA NewsWire

Meanwhile, Lily’s mother, Melanie, paid tribute to her daughter, saying she would always love her “to the moon and back”.

“It was with the purest joy [when] you chose me to be your mum,” she said.

“You and I always had that little ‘something, something’ that went beyond a normal mother-daughter relationship.

“You are my world, my whole existence … I would give up my everything to just to have five more minutes with you.”

Lily’s casket, draped in flowers and decorated with flamingoes. Picture: BACKGRID via NCA NewsWire

Mourners embrace outside the church. Picture: BACKGRID via NCA NewsWire

Britany, Lily’s sister, paid tribute to her “favourite youngest” sibling while crying.

“Your voice will be forever in my head with your sassy comments,” she said.

“Thank you for always holding my hand. You’ve always had my back and I’ll always have yours.

“I never got to tell you how proud of you I am, and how kind and how brave (you are). I love you Lily to the moon and back.”

Family members surrounded her in a group hug as they all sobbed in front of Lily’s coffin.

Later, photographs of the bubbly 14-year-old flashed on a large screen erected outside the church as a soundtrack of popular songs including Pink’s ‘Funhouse’ and Tim McGraw’s ‘My Little Girl’ played in the background.

At the end of the service, family and friends lined the driveway as the hearse was escorted out of the church grounds ahead of a planned cremation.

It was the second funeral attended by some mourners, who paid their respects to Tyrese Bechard in a service held in Picton on Thursday.

TRAGEDY ON A MACCA’S RUN

Lily, along with four friends, Tyrese Bechard, Summer Williams, Antonio Desisto and Gabriella McLennan, were killed when the ute they were travelling in hit a tree on East Parade at Buxton on September 6.

The teens had told their parents they were going on a “Maccas run” but reportedly drove around for hours. Alarm bells were raised when they didn’t return home.

All the teens were students at Picton High School, which designated Thursday, Friday and Monday as remote learning days so its students could attend the funerals of their classmates.

Funerals for Gabriella, Summer and Antonio will be held in the coming days.