As a final farewell to Aisling Symes, her parents released a dove into the air. As it fluttered away, the young mother watched, and watched, until its pure white plumes disappeared.
It was Angela Symes' goodbye to her baby girl. Lowering her gaze, she slowly turned, melting into her husband's arms.
Then sister Caitlin, 5, freed a wicker basket full of doves, smiling as they flew out. Her father's mouth turned up slightly as one swooped close to his head.
It was a celebration of a regrettably short life. After two years and four months, Aisling Celine Symes had only just begun living.
As hundreds of people packed into the Ranui Baptist Church - among a sea of balloons, flowers, teddy bears and paintings - Pastor Russell Watts tried to explain.
"She wasn't meant to go this early, it was just an accident," he said. "We so hoped and prayed this wouldn't happen for another 70 or 80 years."
In her short life, Aisling had touched many people. "For two years this loving, confident, fun, energetic little girl brought so much love and life to so many people," Pastor Watts said, his own eyes red and puffy.
Life was fragile, he said, but Aisling was playing with the angels now. Over seven long days, as police searched, the toddler stole the hearts of a nation.
Yesterday, family, friends and complete strangers packed in between the blue walls of the humble church in West Auckland.
Diesel worker Todd Parker arrived in his overalls, saying, "I just put a hat around at work."
Rows of police officers sat with their heads bowed, caps in laps, the women crying. Inquiry head Inspector Gary Davey's eyes were lowered, his shoulders bowed.
As the Symes family remembered their cheeky entertainer, her parents sat up a little straighter. Tales of her dramatic hide-and-seek "Boo!" made their shoulders shake with laugher.
And then came the ducks. Every day the animal-loving toddler would say, "Mummy, I love ducks", yet her father liked to shoot them.
"You would think it would upset a little 2-year-old girl, but instead she would say 'Shoot duck, bang bang bang' - her father's daughter, I think," her aunt Aithne Potts laughed.
Babies cried and toddlers burbled as Aisling's life was celebrated.
Sister Caitlin - in a pleated green dress, hair immaculately braided and clipped - cuddled into her daddy.
Close by, a framed picture of her sister - toothy grin in full swing - sat perched on the small white coffin.
Irish and New Zealand flags were draped over the top, one for each side of the family.
The "Pooh Pear" teddy, bought the day Aisling disappeared, sat on top.
She was gone, but not forgotten.
Aisling's 'with the angels now'
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