The mother of a 12-year-old Sydney schoolgirl who killed herself after a serious case of bullying has broken down at her daughter’s funeral, saying: ‘I will mourn the life you never had’.
Charlotte O’Brien, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, made the decision to take her own life on September 9 after years of relentless harassment by her classmates.
Students had a pupil-free day on Friday so they could attend her funeral at her primary school, Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park.
Starting at about 10 a.m., loved ones gathered at the church, many with pink ribbons in their hair because it was her favorite color.
As the service began, her parents Mat and Kelly tried to hold back tears as they carried their daughter’s coffin through the church, which was decorated with lavender and butterflies.
Kelly then broke down as she said goodbye to her daughter.
“The first moment I held her in my arms will always be the best day of my life,” she said through tears.
“I knew within a moment of being her mother that I had met my soulmate – my best friend, she was wise beyond her years.”
Hundreds of friends, students and teachers are expected to attend Charlotte’s funeral on Friday
Charlotte O’Brien’s mother Kelly is seen crying at her daughter’s coffin before the funeral
Charlotte’s parents, Mat and Kelly, carried their daughter’s coffin into the church (pictured)
Kelly said her daughter loved swimming and joked that she was “going to be like Moana and never leave the ocean.”
She continued, “I will miss everything about you, honey. I will miss our hugs, your kisses, your love, your beautiful smile, and how you asked me every day how my day was.”
“I will always grieve for the life you never had. I will miss you every day that ends in Y.”
At times she was completely overwhelmed by emotions and had difficulty speaking.
Her stepfather, Mat, said, “I love you. Thank you for being you.”
“Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind, thank you for being so brave.
“Thank you for letting me take your mother on our first date. I was given strict instructions that I needed Charlotte’s approval and I got it. Thank you for giving me the greatest honor of being your father.”
He then read the final Father’s Day card, in which she describes him as “more than a captain.”
She wrote, “Dear Dad, I will always cherish you as I sow my seeds and become the captain you taught me to be.”
‘You are also like the sea. You can be calm and powerful. Strong when necessary.’
Charlotte’s parents made no explicit mention of the years of harassment their daughter struggled through.
However, the priest pointed out that one in three children are bullied and asked mourners to be careful.
Charlotte’s parents (pictured at their daughter’s funeral) wept as they delivered her eulogy
Charlotte’s friends wore pink ribbons in their hair, which was her favorite color
Charlotte O’Brien’s coffin was covered in painted butterflies and lavender (pictured)
“One in three children are bullied in communities around the world,” he said.
‘There is a responsibility in the world. starting at home and in our communities. Where do we go from here? How do we proceed from here? We all experience good and bad.
“In these times we must grow our hearts and minds in God’s work, we must continue to move forward.”
Her parents found her suicide notes in her bedroom – written in small pink handwriting. She urged them to share her story to raise awareness about the impact of bullying.
She asked them to “tell the school” about the torment she had gone through, saying her life had become “too hard.”
Another note referred to her little brother Will. She wrote: ‘Please mom, live for Will because I can’t anymore.’
Her father previously told the media that one of the most disturbing aspects of her death was how happy she seemed to be on her last day.
Charlotte’s mother, Kelly, was pictured holding her youngest child in her arms at the funeral on Friday
Mourners gathered at the church on Friday for Charlotte O’Brien’s funeral (pictured)
On the night she died, Charlotte seemed overly happy and making plans for the future
“We had a great last day with her,” he said.
“I hadn’t seen her come home from school so happy in a long time.”
He said Charlotte was bubbly as she ate her favorite dish, creamy chicken pasta, for dinner, got every question right on her math homework and did “little happy dances.”
She also baked banana bread and brought a piece to her father, still in a good mood.
After playing with her mother and brother, she said goodnight and “literally skipped to the shower.”
“That was the last time we saw her alive and we couldn’t understand what had happened,” Mat said.
Police told the couple that people can appear happy before committing suicide because they believe their problems will be resolved, but Charlotte’s parents strongly rejected that explanation.
Mat said the family had discussed their upcoming vacation, Charlotte wanted to take a road trip and had math problems planned to work on together the next day.
“This isn’t a girl who planned this. Something happened when she went to her bedroom,” he said.
The police search Charlotte’s phone to see what messages she has received in the past few hours.
Her mother, Kelly, was wracked with guilt and regret and asked why her daughter didn’t just come “and give her a hug that night.”
She described her daughter as the ‘sweetest, kindest, toughest, strongest little diva you ever met in your life’.