Friends, family gather at Sunshine Coast chapel for funeral of Jaimi Lee Kenny
Supported by her family, Lisa Curry broke down as she farewelled her daughter Jaimi Kenny at a Sunshine Coast chapel, five days after her shock death. Jaimi, 33, was remembered as the girl with sparkling eyes and a glorious smile who was “so loved, so beautiful, so kind to everyone”.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jaimi Lee Kenny, the girl with sparkling eyes and glorious smile, has been farewelled by friends and family on the Sunshine Coast, the home she adored and where she was so loved.
The daughter of two of Australia’s most glittering athletes, Olympians Grant Kenny and Lisa Curry, her funeral marked the saddest possible ending to a long and complicated battle with eating disorders and alcohol.
The 33 year old, who died five days ago, was laid to rest in a white coffin covered in pink and orange dahlias and baby’s breath.
‘Little angel’: Lisa Curry’s emotional post after funeral
Jaimi Kenny left heartbroken after sudden death of boyfriend Lachy Crossley
Lisa Curry, Grant Kenny lose daughter Jaimi after illness battle
Lisa Curry, supported by her husband Mark Tabone, broke down with grief as she left the chapel.
Dressed in bright colours and florals, friends and family embraced outside the Sunshine Coast chapel this afternoon as a Scottish bagpiper solemnly played.
The ceremony, which had begun in bright colours and sunshine, ended as the sun set.
Had it been any time other than these current turbulent times, the Sunshine Coast chapel where her friends and family gathered would have been overflowing.
Instead, it was locked down to just 100, another victim of COVID-19.
But if there were only 100 allowed inside, she was in the hearts of so many, many more.
Close friends have told of how Jaimi, who was just 33 when she died in Sunshine Coast University Hospital on Monday, adored her family.
As little kids, she had shared the limelight turned on her mum and dad, queen of the pool and king of the sand, along with younger siblings brother Jett and sister Morgan.
As she grew older, she left the public gaze to ironman and model Jett and Moulin Rouge performer Morgan but was renowned inside the family for her love of flowers, cooking, art, decorating, photography, babies, the beach, and helping others.
And there was the love she showered on nephew Flynn and half-sister Trixie – the seven-year-old daughter Kenny had with Box after his 2009 split with Curry.
Friends said the little ones were bright shining lights in a life that for Jaimi had become an increasingly tough emotional battle.
Box this week posted on social media touching photos of Jaimi and Trixie, who she said “loved her big sister so much, her little heart is broken”.
“With every tight squeezy cuddle, your love poured into her,” Box wrote. “We were so blessed to have you in our lives.”
Devastated mum Lisa described her as “so loved, so beautiful, so kind to everyone”.
“Our hearts are broken and the pain is unbearable but we cherish every wonderful moment we got to share with our treasured and so loved first child,” she wrote on social media, announcing the shocking loss of one so young.
“Rest in peace my beautiful baby.
“I will miss you every sunrise, I will miss you when the sun is shining and the birds are singing.
“I just can’t believe you’re not here anymore. I sit and just shake my head. It doesn’t seem real or right. You will forever be with me in my heart Jaimi. I love you so much.”
Originally published as Friends, family gather at Sunshine Coast chapel for funeral of Jaimi Lee Kenny