Charlotte O’Brien’s devastated mum’s emotional funeral tribute after bullying claims her schoolgirl daughter’s life

The mother of a schoolgirl who was bullied to death broke down as she spoke at her daughter’s funeral, but made no mention of the years of torment the 12-year-old girl had suffered at the hands of her peers.

Charlotte O’Brien, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, was farewelled by friends and family at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park, in Sydney’s west, on Friday.

She took her own life in her bedroom on September 9 because the torment inflicted on her by her classmates became unbearable.

Emotions were overflowing as Mat and Kelly, Charlotte’s mother and stepfather, addressed hundreds of mourners at the start of the service, telling them what a thoughtful, caring and kind person she was.

Kelly moved everyone to tears when she said, “I will mourn the life you never had…I can’t wait to go to sleep so I can see you in my dreams.”

Although the parents have spoken out about the impact of bullying since Charlotte’s death, they chose not to focus on it during Friday’s service.

Instead, they thanked their daughter for the joy she brought to their lives.

After the service, Charlotte’s coffin was taken to Rookwood Cemetery, where her biological father had a private funeral with his partner and family.

The priest was the only person at the service who spoke about what her family blamed for Charlotte’s death.

“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.’

He called on mourners to take their actions into account.

During her speech, Kelly said, “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. Without you, things will never be right, not even for a day.”

Kelly sometimes had trouble speaking.

Charlotte’s stepfather said: ‘I love you. Thank you for being yourself.

“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.”

When the service ended, Kelly left the church with her daughter’s casket, holding a stuffed penguin.

A hearse then took Charlotte’s coffin from the church to another service held by her biological father’s family.

When the coffin arrived, “Behind Blue Eyes” by Limp Bizkit could be heard over speakers.

Previously, Charlotte’s mother shared the last message she sent to the school after her daughter’s death.

“My beautiful girl committed suicide last night due to the brutal friendship issues she faced,” she wrote.

‘She didn’t deserve to go to and from school crying almost every day. She didn’t deserve girls barking in her face or screaming her name and running away, purposely hitting her with their bags and saying “oops.”

‘She didn’t deserve the pain she suffered. She deserved love and kindness. She deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.”

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.’

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