Holly Bowles funeral: Family issue statement for daughter who died of methanol poisoning in Laos
Holly Bowles’ family and friends were among 1000 mourners who lined the street outside her old school to say their final goodbyes, and hear a heartfelt message from her parents and brother James.
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“You were the love of my life”.
Those were the words being sung when Holly Jayne Morton-Bowles’ coffin, draped in roses and an Australian flag, was farewelled in a heartbreaking funeral.
Holly, 19, was honoured by 1000 mourners who lined the street outside her old school, Beaumaris Secondary College, on Monday.
For many of them, it was the second funeral in just four days, after Holly’s best friend Bianca Jones was remembered on Friday at her former school, Mentone Girls’ Grammar.
They were on the trip of a lifetime when last month their lives, along with four others, were tragically cut short in a mass methanol poisoning in Laos.
Holly’s parents Shaun and Samantha, and brother James, shared a window into their grief.
“Today is a profoundly significant day for our family as we come together to celebrate Holly’s life,” they said in a statement read out by Beaumaris Secondary College acting principal Peter Bartlett.
“Holly was loved and adored by so many, today is a reflection of her life, however she will remain in our hearts forever.”
The family thanked “the people of Australia, Canada and the rest of the world for the outpouring of love, support, and compassion during this extremely difficult time.”
“Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort for our family,” their statement said.
The Morton-Bowles family has been determined to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning in Asia, which is often linked to homebrew spirits.
They have begun a campaign, which has been financed through a GoFundMe page, to make sure their daughter’s death was not in vain.
Holly died on November 22, a day after Bianca.
She had spent more than a week on life support in the Bangkok Hospital in Thailand after being transferred from Laos.
Holly and Bianca were close, they played together at Beaumaris Football Club and they shared what should have been an amazing adventure.
Many of the details of their funerals were similar, they had the same red and pink roses on their coffins.
Shaun Bowles carried his daughter’s coffin alongside Bianca’s father, Mark.
They had done the same at Bianca’s funeral last week.
Holly’s funeral service was private, however the family released a copy of the memorial card.
There was a photograph of Holly, wearing a cream knitted jumper, smiling at the camera with her bright eyes and her head tilted to the side, highlighting a drop earring.
The Morton-Bowles family also shared a list of the music played, which read like it was lifted from Holly’s Spotify playlist.
There was Red Wine Supernova, by Chappell Roan, ABBA’s Mamma Mia, Booster Seat by Spacey Jane, and Chihiro, by Billie Eilish.
The procession song was also from Billie Eilish, L’Amour De Ma Vie, which includes that line: “You were the love of my life.”
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