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MELBOURNE - Two Melbourne brothers killed under tonnes of glacier ice in New Zealand were remembered at their funeral today as role models who loved life.
More than 500 people packed St Peters Catholic Church in Melbourne's south-east for the service.
Ashish Miranda, 24, and his brother Akshay Miranda, 22, died after walking beyond warning signs on the Fox Glacier in Westland on January 8.
The pair was holidaying with their parents Ronnie and Winnie Miranda when they died.
The two coffins holding the men's remains were draped in a white cloth, and adorned with bouquets of flowers.
"I cannot think of any more fitting role models than the hard-working and gracious Ashish and Akshay," their uncle Cedric Miranda told mourners.
"They have not only touched but entered into and remain in the lives, minds and hearts of all who knew them."
Jason Mendonsa, a close friend of Ashish, said his mate, who worked as an aerospace engineer for Boeing, lived life with passion.
"Ash, my mate, you always loved to fly. You wanted to be the best. Now you have your own angel wings, so come to visit us sometime," Mendonsa said.
Daniel Unabia said Akshay was like a brother to him.
"There are two things you should know about Akshay. One, he was an absolute laugh.
"And two ... Akshay was one of the most loyal friends you could ever meet," he said.
Another friend, Stanley D'Souza, said Ashish was a word that in Sanskrit meant "blessing", while Akshay meant "eternal".
"They were, and will remain, and eternal blessing for Winnie and Ronnie," he said.
Other friends of the men placed some favourite mementoes of the brothers around their coffins - Akshay's Manchester United scarf and cap, and Ashish's cricket ball and bat among other things.
Some mourners came from India and the US to farewell the brothers.
- AAP
