Jerri Blank
Trusted Member
Little Kiesha Weippeart laid to rest at last
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/...-to-rest-at-last/story-e6frea73-1226148948713FAMILY and friends have dressed in purple to honour Kiesha Weippeart at her funeral service this morning.
The North Chapel at Pinegrove Memorial Park in Sydney's west has been filled with purple flowers and messages of love to the six-year-old girl, allegedly murdered last year by her mother and step-father.
At the front of the chapel is a tiny purple coffin - little Kiesha's favourite colour.
A choir of children sang "In the Arms of an Angel" to Kiesha.
"May you find some comfort here," they sang.
Fr Edward Dooley told the 100-strong congregation today marked a day of closure for Kiesha's grieving families.
"It is now time to heal," he said.
Fr Dooley invited the community to a public memorial will be held at Holy Family Church at Mt Druitt next Tuesday from 10am.
Her biological father Chris Weippeart and grandmother Liz requested the funeral service today be a private one for just close family and friends.
"She is our little girl, this is the way we want to do it," Mrs Weippeart said.
Mrs Weippeart said the whole community is welcome to attend the public memorial next Tuesday to say goodbye to Kiesha.
"I don't mind who comes to the memorial, but we want to keep the funeral service private and low-key," she said.
But Kiesha's maternal grandfather Rodney Smith, and other members of the family said they are angry she is not being farewelled with a large funeral.
"She deserves a proper goodbye," Mr Smith said.
Kiesha's mother Kristi Abrahams and step-father Robert Smith, who have both been charged with murder, have been told of the funeral, but have been denied the opportunity to attend.
Mr Smith's mother Rebecca said she had hoped Kiesha's funeral would have been a special ceremony with the fuss the little girl deserved.
"I think its disgusting she isn't getting a proper funeral like she deserves, I just cant believe it and I'm angry about it," Mrs Smith said.
Kiesha's skeletal remains were found in a shallow bush grave in April this year, but it took the Coroner and fornesic pathologists almost five-months to determine her cause of death, before they could be released for burial.