Ivona Jovanovic: Family and friends gather to remember young woman who was shot
Shooting victim Ivona Jovanovic was remembered as a “loving person” as family and friends gathered on the Gold Coast to farewell the “kind soul.”
Lifestyle
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IVONA Jovanovic has been remembered as a loving person with a kind soul.
About a hundred family members and close friends dressed in black to gather at Integrity Funerals at Parkwood yesterday to farewell the blonde-haired 27-year-old.
Ms Jovanovic died after being shot in the chest at a home in quiet Renfrew Drive at Highland Park about 8.30pm on Sunday, September 8.
Ms Jovanovic was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital where she died soon after.
Police allege a number of people were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Her friends and family have been left shaken and “heart broken”.
IVONA JOVANOVIC LEFT TO DIE AS FRIENDS RUN FROM SHOOTING SCENE
One of her best friends spoke at the funeral and said anyone who knew her would know how much of a good person she was.
“She was such a loving person. Had such a kind soul. Everybody knew that,” she said.
“She never deserved this.
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“We just love her so much. I really hope nobody ever forgets her. We will never forget her. Her legacy will live on inside our hearts.
“She will never leave. Every time you see a ladybug, it’s Ivona.
“I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart for coming.
“You all put in so much effort to make yourself look so beautiful and glam. She would have loved it. Everyone’s got (false) eyelashes on and fake tan.
IVONA JOVANOVIC, 27, SHOT DEAD IN ‘QUIET’ GOLD COAST STREET
“She will be looking down on us. She loved everyone.”
The last photo she posted on Instagram has been flooded with more than 500 comments paying tribute.
“Honestly I can’t get you out of my head. Every thought you are in it,” one person wrote.
“I miss you, I miss your laugh and your beautiful smile. Rest in peace my love. I can’t wait to see your smile again.”
Ms Jovanovic’s younger sister Annette was too distraught to speak at the funeral.
The day after the death, she had taken to Facebook to share her thoughts.
“I just wanted you to know that I miss you so much and I would do anything in the world to have you back in our lives,” Annette Jovanovic wrote on her sister’s Facebook page.
“It’s been two nights and I have been unable to sleep. Mama and Tata are destroyed and haven’t been able to sleep either. And the puppies are wondering where big sister is …
“If only you got to see your family one last time before you let go. I’m so sorry there was no one there to at least try and help you have a chance of being reunited with us.
“I promise I will take care of Mama and Tata as I know you’d be worried (about) their health as this was the biggest shock to us.
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“I never thought in my entire life this would happen to you.
“Just know you never deserved any of this and we all love you.”
Former boyfriend Christos Christos Panagakos, who has alleged links to the Mongols bikie gang, was arrested and questioned when he returned to the home about 1am the night of the incident.
It is understood Panagakos, who was out on parole for unrelated offences, remains behind bars on a return-to-prison warrant.
Police investigations into the shooting are continuing. No one has been charged at this time.
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