Funeral for ‘beautiful, cheeky boy’ Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos
FOUR weeks after being killed in a horror car crash on Tiger Brennan Dr, 7-year-old Darwin boy Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos is today being laid to rest
Northern Territory
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FOUR weeks after being killed in a horror car crash on Tiger Brennan Dr, 7-year-old Darwin boy Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos is today being laid to rest.
Hundreds of mourners came to farewell Mehali this morning in a moving ceremony at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Every pew was filled in the CBD church, with many being forced to stand for the service — tears flowed as the tiny white coffin holding little Mehali entered the church.
On either side of the coffin, two glowing candles burnt brightly as mourners whispered prayers for the young Darwin boy.
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Following the traditional Greek service, the coffin was led outside to the waiting hearse.
There, Mehali’s father, Anastasios Pastrikos, choked back tears as the body of his eldest child was lifted into the black vehicle.
Mr Pastrikos held tightly onto his surviving son Yianni, 3, as Mehali’s coffin was blessed.
The three-year-old sat quietly, watching Father Joel Xanthos.
After the hearse drove away, mourners turned to each other for comfort.
Mr Pastrikos’ best friend, Luke Ruxton, said no father should ever have to bury their child.
“Mehali being Mehali — he was a bright, bubbly, cheeky little boy, he literally walked into every room and lit it up,” he said.
“As today has shown, he has made an impact on every single person he has met.
“And he still will — forever.”
Mr Ruxton said Mehali could put a smile on anyone’s face.
“Him and his dad were best friends and dad loves fishing — made sure his little boy loved fishing too,” he said.
“Even on some days when dad didn’t want to go fishing.
“He loved animals. Just an amazing kid. He’ll never be forgotten. Never.”
Mr Ruxton said Mehali was a “beautiful cheeky boy”.
“Even if you’d only met him once, met him twice, if you met him every single day of your life — that would be enough for you to never forget,” he said.
“He never, ever had a frown on his face.”
Following the Greek service, Mehali’s body was taken to another church for a private service with his mother’s family.
He will be laid to rest about 12pm at Thorak Regional Cemetery.
Mehali and Wade Williams, 21, both died in the crash at the intersection of Tiger Brennan Dr and Berrimah Rd about midnight Wednesday May 22.
Both drivers in the crash, a 42-year-old man and Mehali’s 24-year-old mother Andrea Groening, survived.
Mehali and Mr Williams were both in a Rav4 being driven by the mother-of-three, Ms Groening.
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A GoFundMe account for Mehali’s funeral raised nearly $16,000 to help pay for the service.
“Mehali is a very loved and beautiful boy. A true Darwin kid who loved spending time with his dad and going fishing,” it read.
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