Between a guard of honour formed by hundreds of school children, a brave young boy led a marching band in front of hearse carrying his sister’s coffin.
Michael Sakr, 13, choked back tears as he took off his school blazer at the end of his sister Veronique’s funeral on Tuesday, and picked up a drum to join his band mates.
He then lead the band along a street lined with more than 500 mourners paying respect to Veronique whose life was cruelly snatched away in a ‘drink drive’ accident at Oatlands, on February 1.
Her funeral came a day after cousins Antony, 12, Angelina, 11, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, were farwelled in a huge service at Our Lady of Lebanon church in Harris Park.
Earlier in the funeral service, held at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield where Veronique had just started Year 6, mourners heard how when Michael learned of the tragic accident, he asked: ‘Dad, how do I do it?’.
His dad answered: ‘Do what?’. Michael said: ‘Live my life without her?’.
Michael Sakr, 13, leads a marching band ahead of the hearse carrying his sister Veronique’s coffin, as hundreds of school kids and mourners lined the street in a guard of honour
Michael, 13, choked back tears as he lead the band through the guard of honour paying respect to his sister Veronique
Bridget Sakr (in blue dress) is supported by Danny and Leila Abdallah (end left and right) whose three kids were killed in the same accident at Oatlands, in Sydney’s north west
Veronique Sakr, 11, died alongside her three cousins when they were struck by an allegedly drunk and speeding driver at Oatlands, Sydney, on February 1
The white coffin of Veronique Sakr is carried into the chapel for her funeral on Tuesday
A brave Michael supported his mother Bridget into the school chapel for the funeral service where mourners heard how the siblings shared a ‘beautiful and unrivalled’ bond.
Veronique and her cousins Antony, 12, Angelina, 11, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, died when they were struck by an accused drunk driver at Oatlands, in Sydney’s north west, on February 1.
Through tears, Mrs Sakr told mourners her ‘heart is in agony’, but she is comforted knowing her Veronique is now in heaven with ‘the angels and saints’.
‘Our Veronique is with you right now, with our father and all our angels and saints.’
Mrs Sakr revealed the final conversation they shared the day Veronique was killed.
‘She said to me on the day she went to heaven: ‘Mummy, you know I love talking to older people and younger people’,’ she said.
A day after speaking glowingly about the Abdallah children, Monsignor Shora Maree told mourners how an encounter Veronique was simply ‘unforgettable’.
‘Her teachers said that at the end of a long day, whenever they saw Veronique her smile gave them a lift,’ Mons Shora said.
‘The family said they have been contacted by people saying: ‘I met your daughter once and I can’t forget her’.’
Leila and Danny Abdallah, whose three children were killed in the same accident, bravely arrive at Veronique’s funeral. Their own children were farwelled on Monday
The hundreds gathered heard how despite her age, she had already pledged to care for her parents in later life.
‘Bridget, you said that because of the way she saw you take care of your parents, Veronique has said: ‘I’ll take care of you mum when you grow old’.
Her older brother Michael laughed as the chapel was told how Veronique has always been a ‘bossy’ sister.
‘She was bossy to you as a brother, well what’s she going to be like with Jesus up there?’ Monsignor Shora joked.
The congregation also heard how Veronique’s parents Bob and and Bridget had pledged to forgive alleged drunk driver Samuel William Davidson.
In a statement released ahead of the funeral, the Sakr family said Veronique had an ‘incredible sense of compassion and empathy for others’.
‘She always opened her kind heart to everyone who was in need of a friend,’ her parents said.
‘Our beautiful girl embraced all that life had to offer. She loved to dance, kick a ball, rock-climb and endlessly swim in the pool or beach.’
‘Veronique will always be loved and eternally missed. She was an angel on earth and now is in heaven’, the parents said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was among mourners at the funeral on Tuesday
Pink flowers adorned the top of Veronique’s white coffin
Hundreds of mourners make their way into Santa Sabina School chapel for the funeral
Bridget Sakr with her children Michael and Veronique, 11, in a photo she posted at Christmas time
In the wake of the tragedy, the families of the four children pledged to set up a road safety charity in their honour.
Danny and Leila Abdallah – whose three children were farewelled on Monday – and the Sakr family made the announcement on Tuesday.
‘We intend for establish a charitable foundation to honour the memories of Veronique, Antony, Angelina and Sienna,’ the families said.
‘(It will be) for the purpose of improving road safety programs and initiatives across Australia.’
Micheal Sakr, 13, holds his mother Bridget’s hand for support as they visit the scene of the tragedy where Veronique, 11, was killed along with her three cousins
Veronique’s father Bob and brother Michael embrace as they visit the scene of the accident
Veronique’s family said in the statement released on Sunday they were ‘devastated’ by the loss of ‘our beautiful girl’ in the horrific crash
Chehade Sakr posted this photo as he wrote of the shock of losing his youngest cousin at just 11 years old, and his heartbreak that his own son wouldn’t get to grow up with her
The Abdallah family has mostly carried the load in being the public face of the disaster, frequently visiting the crash site and making numerous public statements.
Leila Abdallah made the extraordinary act of forgiving the driver who allegedly killed the four children and injured three others.
Veronique’s parents pledged to do the same.
Mrs Abdallah was praised by Monsignor Shora Maree during her three children’s funeral on Monday, as was her husband Danny for the love and strength they showed in grief.
‘Leila you said the words of forgiveness that stunned the world. That doesn’t come from something human, it comes from the divine,’ he said.
‘Wow. What an inspiration for all of us. We’ve seen the renewal of faith for many.’
Thousands of mourners packed into the Our Lady of Lebanon co-cathedral to farewell the three young Abdallah children
Leila Abdallah comforts her heartbroken daughter Leanna as her husband Danny shakes a mourner’s hand during the funeral
The four children were walking in a group along Bettington Road to buy ice cream on a 40C degree night when they were struck.
Three other kids with them were seriously injured.
Truck driver Samuel William Davidson, 29, has been charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter and high-range drink driving.
Students from the Kings School in Parramatta, where Antony was a student in Year 8, stood in a guard of honour as his coffin was brought out of the church