Funeral held for millionaire businessman steps from home where he died

A church just steps from the home where Greg Josephson was allegedly murdered filled out before midday on Monday, as hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the millionaire Brisbane businessman.

Almost no parking spaces were left along the ordinarily quiet suburban street in Clayfield, as scores of friends and family in black streamed into the funeral mass, held about 150 metres from the family property.

The church doors were closed and the first music – Gabriel’s Oboe from the soundtrack to The Mission – drifted outside at 12.01pm.

Greg Josephson was farewelled on Monday.Credit: AAPIMAGE

The service was a largely private affair, with funeral staff guarding both entrances and a small contingent of media photographers outside.

More than two hours after proceedings began, six pallbearers slowly carried the casket through the front doors to a waiting Mercedes-Benz hearse.

Dozens of mourners lined the side of the church to pay their final respects before slowly dissipating.

Michael Carroll, the principal of exclusive boys’ school St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, where Josephson graduated in 1984, was in attendance, according to the service booklet.

The ordinarily quiet street was lined with cars, as hundreds gathered to farewell Greg Josephson. Credit: William Davis

The Josephson family and a handful of friends were listed as speakers.

His children remembered “amazing memories of special times spent with him: birthdays, holidays, Christmases and just being together”.

Greg Josephson and wife Tamra Josephson pictured on a funeral service booklet.Credit: K.M Smith Funeral Directors

One relative, John Josephson, prayed that “Gregory’s creative, beautiful and gentle spirit will always be remembered and cherished”, while another, Harry Josephson, read a prayer for Greg’s grieving wife Tamra and the couple’s children.

“Ease their pain and grief in time so they can look back on Gregory’s life with love, joy and gratitude,” he said, according to the booklet.

The 58-year-old co-founder of Universal Store was stabbed at his own home last month as dozens of school children partied downstairs, according to police.

A 15-year-old boy was found by officers nearby later that night and arrested. He has since been charged with murder and remains in custody.

Josephson founded the Universal Store in 1999 with his brother Michael, with the first store opening in Carindale, in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.

Their uncle owned the Lee Cooper brand, while their grandfather owned workwear brand Can’t Tear ’Em.

According to LinkedIn, Josephson also held roles for Westfield and Lend Lease.

The 15-year-old alleged murderer remains in custody, with prosecutors compiling their brief of evidence.

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