Jarrod Fox: Kilsyth tradie to be farewelled in Lilydale on Friday, August 31
Kilsyth electrician Jarrod Fox has been celebrated as a hardworking, sports-loving and generous father of two at his funeral, with his fiancee declaring “I don’t know how to do life without you”.
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The heartbroken fiance of electrocuted Kilsyth tradie Jarrod Fox has made a passionate tribute to her late partner, promising to raise their young sons as kind and caring men and saying “I don’t know how to do life without you”.
Jarrod, 37, was farewelled in Lilydale on Friday morning after he was killed while working underneath a house in Ringwood on Tuesday, August 18.
Eleven family and friends attended Jarrod’s service, with five-week-old son Jasper given a special exemption by premier Daniel Andrews to be an eleventh guest earlier this week.
More than 250 people watched a livestream of the service online and were welcomed with a picture of Jarrod wakeboarding and the chilled out sounds of songs by Xavier Rudd.
In a letter read by celebrant Janet Hussey, fiance Charmaine Rowe said she lamented how her sports-mad partner would “never teach the boys to wave ski or kick the footy like you said you would”.
She shed light on her shy partner’s competitive nature, first seen on a mini golf date and later playing basketball with son Archer, 2, in the bathtub.
“Your pupils dilated when you kept shooting airballs,” she said.
“You often said how lucky you were, but I was the lucky one.
“I don’t know how to do life without you, I’m so heartbroken.”
Others to speak at the service included older cousin Ben Fox, who spoke about Jarrod’s wakeboarding skills and an unexpected best-on-ground partying performance at his wedding last year.
Close friend Greg Edwards spoke of his mate’s calmness, humanity and generosity, saying he was thousands of dollars in debt to him for cab rides and drinks in his university days.
“He was willing to give and content knowing he was contributing to the happiness of others,” Mr Edwards said.
“No round of golf, day at the cricket or catch up with the boys will ever be the same without you.”
The electrician’s hardworking ethic, love of horse riding and boats and commitment to his family was also celebrated.
The service finished with a display of childhood pictures and videos, fittingly, to Daryl Braithwaite’s anthem Horses.
Sister Erin said the family would forever hold her brother in their hearts as she read a Banjo Paterson poem.
“As long was we have breath to speak your name we’ll love you, Jarrod, fly free,” she said.
Ms Hussey also read out a speech by Jarrod’s mother, Cheryl, who said she would maintain a tradition shared with Archer.
“If I could give my life or change the moment you were taken Jarrod, I would,” she said.
“Each night, Archer and I will keep on the tradition to look towards the stars, and look for you.”
The electrician is being widely mourned, with an overwhelming response to a GoFundMe fundraiser for a trust fund for sons Archer, 2, and Jasper, five weeks, since it launched on August 19.
It had received more than $240,000 in donations as of 11am on Friday, August 28.
A further fundraiser selling tradie face masks honouring Jarrod is also planned.
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