Onyx Packer: Heartbreaking funeral for toddler who drowned in dam

To the tune of ‘You Are My Sunshine’, a montage played above a small white coffin during a final goodbye for a Qld toddler who drowned just days before his second birthday.

Onyx Packer was just a week off turning two when he fell into a dam on a private property near the Country Stopover Caravan Park on the Bruce Highway south of Maryborough, some time before 10.40am on Friday, June 27.

A heartbreaking funeral service has been held for a tiny boy who drowned in a dam in Tinana last month.

Onyx Packer was just a week off turning two when he fell into a dam on a private property near the Country Stopover Caravan Park on the Bruce Highway south of Maryborough, sometime before 10.40am on Friday, June 27.

Despite efforts of emergency service crews to revive the boy, he could not be saved.

The funeral was held at Ross Funeral’s Maryborough Chapel on Tuesday.

The service started with a montage of photos, set to Walking in Memphis showing the toddler loving life, spending time with his loved ones, swimming, grinning and sleeping after big, fun eventful days.

A short eulogy was prepared by Onyx’s family and was read on their behalf.

Onyx Packer was just one week away from his second birthday when he fell into a dam on a private property bordering the Country Stopover Caravan Park.

“Since you came into this life you’ve brought joy and love,” it said.

“We’re all grateful for the time we spent with you, the treasured memories we as a family will keep forever in our hearts.

“You were loved by everyone who crossed paths with you, special boy.

“May your wings fly high until we meet again.”

A small white coffin, covered with flowers, was surrounded by those who came to mourn Onyx.

During the service he was remembered as a child who loved to joke, he loved Bluey and Paw Patrol, yoghurt ice cream blocks, apples and strawberries and Archer, his dog.

He loved his friends and his family.

Little Onyx Packer drowned in a dam near the Country Stopover Caravan Park where he was living with his dad.

Onyx didn’t like going to sleep, those gathered heard, fighting it where he could, and he disliked sitting still in a car, not being able to do things.

A family member spoke fondly of his great nephew, of how loved Onyx was and how the bond between Onyx and his dad Kyle which would never fade.

“That boy loved you more than anything in the world,” he said.

In the wake of Onyx’s death, his mother Chara Lucianne updated her Facebook profile with the words “Onyx Mathew is my sunshine” with the dates of her son’s birth and death.

“Forever 2,” she wrote.

After the eulogy, another photo montage was shown to those gathered, this time to the sounds of You Are My Sunshine.

Originally published as Onyx Packer: Heartbreaking funeral for toddler who drowned in dam