Shyanne-Lee Tatnell: Live updates from the funeral that broke Tasmania’s hearts
The funeral of Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, hosted by her former principal at Montello Primary School, has seen moving pictures of the life of the girl with a passion for singing and a love of mischief.
Tasmania
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Shyanne-Lee Tatnell has been farewelled at an emotional funeral service in Burnie.
The ceremony at Burnie was hosted by Denise Witherspoon, the former principal of Montello Primary School, where Shyanne-Lee attended school.
The ceremony began with the lighting of five candles by Shyanne-Lee’s family.
“The first candle represents grief. The pain of losing you is with us and the flame of light will shine on our tears and warm us as we honour your life,” Ms Witherspoon said.
“The second candle represents courage, that which lay in your life and the strength we all give to each other in our loss.
“The third candle we light for memories. We celebrate your human journey with us.
“The fourth candle we light for hope, hope that justice is served, hope that lessons are learnt, hope that time will heal.
“The fifth candle represents love. It shines forth in joy as we know that love never dies, it goes on from person to person, moment to moment, and adds to the life of the universe in delight.”
Ms Witherspoon read out eulogies to Shyanne-Lee from friends and family members, including grandmother Michelle Hubbard, mum Bobbi-Lee Ketchell, Shyanne-Lee’s father, and stepsister Lakeesha.
Ms Ketchell said she would “never be free from the grief”.
“It is a solid stone deep inside me. I wear a mask of coping but I am in complete despair,” Ms Ketchell said.
“I cannot mend what is broken, my heart is beyond repair. I’ll smile if I have to, but it’s just a mask. I’ll say I’m okay, but I cannot be okay. Its something I lack.
“Never will I be whole again. Continue to shine bright, mum’s baby girl. You’ve touched so many hearts and lives.”
Shyanne-Lee’s father said he would always remember his “puddin’ bear”.
“From a chubby newborn to the beautiful young lady you’ve become, you always made me so proud, apart from stealing nan’s car,” he said.
“I was impressed how far you made it despite only being 14.
“The pain I feel now is tearing me apart. You were taken away too early. I regret not being there for you.
“I will never say goodbye as that seems too long, so I will tell you I love you and say, until we meet again baby girl.”
Ms Hubbard said that her granddaughter could “melt anyone’s heart” as a toddler, with her “beautiful, blonde curly hair”.
She described Shyanne-Lee as a “tomboy” and renowned troublemaker, who loved especially catching crabs during rock-pooling adventures and chasing her brother Jethro with them.
“I will hold my precious memories of you so close to my heart forever, especially that last month you spent living with me,” Ms Hubbard said.
“I felt so privileged you loved trying on my dresses and shoes, and occasionally wore them.
“You were such a beautiful, caring, sensitive, kind, loving young lady with a heart of gold.
“I so wish I could’ve protected you from the evils of life but I couldn’t.
“You were too headstrong.”
Lakeesha, Shyanne-Lee’s stepsister, said that the thought of being without Shyanne-Lee was “too much for me to handle”.
“You were a b---h at times but, in the very end I knew I loved you no matter what was going on between us. You were the blonde I always wanted to be and the fabulous singer I always looked up to,” she said.
Lakeesha expressed her regret for family issues she let come between them.
“I pushed you away,” Lakeesha said.
“I wish I could say I was sorry for everything, but that list would go on too long to even start now.
“Instead of me saying goodbye, I’m saying see you later pretty girl. When I finally see you again, I will hold you until I just can’t anymore.”
Moving pictures of Shyanne-Lee were shown, set to ‘Dancing in the Sky’ by Dani and Lizzy, and ‘Healing Hands’ by Conrad Sewell.
It was followed by a procession of mourners leaving rose petals on Shyanne-Lee’s coffin.
Earlier in the ceremony, Ms Witherspoon, the emcee and Shyanne-Lee’s former principal, said she developed a “close bond” with the teen and took pleasure watching “a lively young girl become a caring and compassionate soul”.
She delved further into the circumstances that led to Shyanne-Lee moving to Launceston to take up residence in a youth hostel in a bid to repair the fractured relationship with her family.
“Events within the family led to Shyanne becoming strong-willed and rebellious, bucking against boundaries and ultimately deciding she could do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted,” Ms Witherspoon said.
“Her behaviour was on a downward spiral. She became a risk taker. Relationships with those who loved her began to break down.
“She moved to Launceston, giving distance between her and the family, allowing time and space for their relationships to be repaired.
“Slowly this was happening and her life began to turn for the better.
“Shyanne-Lee’s family lived in hope she would return and bridges could continue to be mended.
“Sadly this was not to be.”
The public funeral, which was followed by a private cremation of her remains, concluded with the releasing of doves into the cloudless blue sky.
A Scottsdale man, Christopher Mark Jordan, 36, has been charged with Shyanne-Lee’s murder.
She was last seen alive in Launceston on the evening of April 30.
Earlier, August 12, 5am: A collective heartache will be felt across Tasmania on Saturday as the family of Shyanne-Lee Tatnell put their 14-year-old girl to rest.
It has been about a fortnight since the Burnie teen’s remains were found on a remote bushland track at Nabowla, west of Scottsdale.
Police never gave up in their search to find her, when she disappeared after walking over Launceston’s Henry St bridge on the night of April 30.
Scottsdale man Christopher Mark Jordan, 36, has been charged with her murder.
He remains remanded in custody, with his next court appearance on Wednesday.
The family and friends of Shyanne-Lee will attend her funeral at 11am on Saturday at Parkside Funerals in Burnie.
The funeral ceremony is open to the public, but a private cremation will be held.
Family members said those attending can, if they wish, bring a handwritten message to be placed with Shyanne-Lee.
Last week, Shyanne-Lee’s family and friends acknowledged her fifteenth birthday at Launceston’s City Park, with her mother Bobbi-Lee Ketchell telling the Mercury: “I have good days and bad days. Shyanne was loved by so many and touched so many people’s lives in so many ways.
“I want Shyanne’s legacy to make awareness of holding your kids tight, be aware of safety, being out after dark. I hope her legacy is like that to help other families.”
The funeral will be livestreamed via parksidefunerals.com.au.
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