Videos of the murdered teenager Alice Gross playing and singing songs were played at her funeral on Thursday, as friends and family celebrated her life.
Her parents said that despite the terrible circumstances of Alice’s death – her remains were found a month after she went missing from her home in Hanwell, west London – they wanted the funeral to focus on the joy in her life and the joy she brought to others.
The 14-year-old’s coffin was decorated with a meadow scene – that included her dog and three cats – by her sister Nina, Alice’s grandmother, Anne Hodgkiss, and family friend Carole McCourt. The teenager’s love of music was reflected in a number of songs dedicated to her memory, with mourners uniting in singing You are my Sunshine.
Traffic stopped and locals came out to pay their respects as the hearse drove by, accompanied by a police escort. Her family followed in black cars as the funeral procession passed a short distance from the river Brent, where Alice’s body was found under logs on 30 September after Scotland Yard’s biggest search operation since the London bombings in 7 July 2005.
Yellow ribbons, once a symbol of hope that Alice would be found alive, festooned trees, railings and traffic signs along the route. At the clocktower in the centre of Hanwell, which has become a focus of the community’s grief, locals lit small candles arranged to spell “We love you Alice” before the funeral.
The humanist celebration was private but her family released some details of the service. Tributes were paid to the teenager by Nina, her parents, Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross, and Alice’s teachers. Her former music teachers paid tribute in music, including Home by Gabrielle Aplin, The Call by Regina Spektor , Touch the Sky from the film Brave as well as the violin piece Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar. Her grandfather read the poem Surprised by Joy by William Wordsworth, inspired the loss of his own daughter, which concludes: “Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more, that neither present time, nor years unborn, could to my sight that heavenly face restore.”
In a statement, Alice’s family said: “We have been devastated by the appalling circumstances of Alice’s death. Alice was so spirited, so present, so vital and so full of promise. We find it almost impossible to understand what has happened and that we have to say goodbye to her. We want Alice’s funeral to focus on the joy of Alice’s life and the joy of having known her.
“We would like to thank everyone for being so kind and supportive. We have been moved by the depth of sympathy and compassion around us, not only from close family and friends but also from the local community.”
The family have set up a tribute and donation page in Alice’s memory of the National Foundation for Youth Music, saying that Alice would have wanted others to experience the joy she experienced through music.
A public memorial ceremony for Alice will take place on Sunday at Greenford town hall for the family to thank people for their support.
The prime suspect in Alice’s murder, convicted killer Arnis Zalkalns, was found hanged in nearby Boston Manor park on 4 October, four weeks after he was reported missing.
