Warning: This story contains distressing content.
Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Sydney’s west today to farewell 12-year-old Charlotte, who took her own life earlier this month.
Her mother and father, Kelly and Mat, addressed the congregation at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park this morning, remembering their “angel”.
“I will always grieve the life you never had,” Kelly said through tears.
“I won’t just miss you on special occasions like your birthday, I’ll miss you every day that ends with Y.
“You used to tell me when you were a child you were an angel watching me from heaven.
“You saw I needed you, so you popped into my belly.
“I don’t know why you went home baby, because I still need you.”
Mat also spoke, and thanked Charlotte for letting her into their lives, after he first met Kelly.
“Thank you for giving me the greatest honour – of being your dad,” he said.
He read from a recent father’s day card she gave him, where she described him as her “captain”, and “like the sea”.
“I am like the surfer, riding your waves of support while you teach me to trust and enjoy the ride,” he read from the card.
“Charlotte, I miss you today and I’ll miss you every tomorrow.”
She was carried in a purple coffin decorated with butterflies by her parents, aunties and uncles.
Charlotte described the bullying she endured at Santa Sabina private school in Strathfield in a letter she left for her parents before she died.
She told them it was too difficult to continue.
She was in Year 7, and passed away by suicide earlier this month.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
