Grieving family seeks help to lay Hayley Ernst to rest

THE grieving aunt of Hayley Ernst — who was found dead at a house in Kingswood — has called on the community to help fund her niece’s funeral and provide support for the two little girls left behind.

THE grieving aunt of Hayley Ernst has called on the community to help fund her niece’s funeral and provide support for the two little girls she has left behind.

About 12.15am on Sunday, May 21, Hayley Ernst — who was also pregnant — was found dead at a house in Derby Rd, Kingswood.

She leaves behind two daughters, aged two and one.

“(Hayley) was a beautiful, happy, loving, bright, bubbly girl,” said her aunty Sharon Bellanto.

Ms Bellanto said she started a GoFundMe crowd-funding page soon after Hayley’s death, to help ease the burden on Hayley’s family.

Hayley Ernst is pictured with her mother Lisa Ernst who said “she always had a smile on her face”. Picture: Courtesy of Sharon Bellanto

“Heaven knows the pain (her parents) are going through,” she said, adding “it’s shattered us, rocked us to the core. There’s no words.”

Fighting back tears Hayley’s mother, Lisa Ernst, spoke of her daughter as being “always happy” and always having “kind words to say about people”.

“She was my everything — my only child,” she said, adding “she loved her family and her friends very much.”

The family has turned Hayley’s Facebook page into a tribute page, where people can post their condolences or simply remember Hayley.

“She was a selfie queen — she loved photos,” Ms Bellanto said fondly.

Hayley Ernst after she got her P-plates. Picture: Courtesy of Sharon Bellanto

Lisa Ernst said daughter Hayley “always had kind words to say about people.”

A former Colyton High and Shalvey Public School student, Hayley had moved to Kingswood from St Marys about two weeks before her life was tragically cut short.

“She always loved to laugh, and just had so much love to give to her everyone,” Ms Bellanto recalled.

She said Hayley’s daughters were “okay at the moment”. “They’re funny. They’re gorgeous,” she said.

“Those who know Hayley have been a great support.”

She said one of the most difficult things has been living in limbo until a funeral can be held.

Following her death, Hayley’s partner and the father of her children, Max Spencer, 21, was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic).

Mr Spencer has not been charged with any offence in relation to Hayley’s death.

Investigations are continuing.

■ To donate, search “Help Lisa lay Hayley to rest” on gofundme.com