Mourners told of 'lioness' Carmen

Family and friends paid tribute to Carmen Thomas with a funeral at Greenlane yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

About 3 months after her brutal death Carmen Thomas's favourite singer performed in her memory in a moving farewell.

The life of the dedicated mother, loyal friend and loving daughter was celebrated and mourned at the funeral service in Auckland yesterday.

As James Kahu sang the lyrics "lay your head down on my chest" during his song Sleep, Carmen's grieving mother rested her head on a relative's shoulder for support.

Before the service at the Greenlane Christian Centre started, images of Ms Thomas with her son Jack, her childhood and her travels, flashed up on large screens either side of the hall while James Blunt's You're Beautiful was played in the background.

The 32-year-old was killed on June 29. Police found her dismembered body set in concrete in plastic containers buried in the Waitakere Ranges this month.

Her former partner, Brad Callaghan, is in custody charged with murder.

The congregation heard stories of a "dancing queen" who loved to party, of her mischievous sense of humour and the love she had for 5-year-old Jack, her only child.

The eulogy was delivered by Carmen's mother Teresa Scott and sisters Colleen, Bonnie, Sandy and Storm.

They told of how she "built her life around Jack" like a "lioness protecting her cub" and how she once organised a fire truck to attend his birthday party.

She was thrilled when she fell pregnant with him after being told she couldn't have children.

Ms Scott said her daughter was born prematurely, ready to party. "I just thought she was the most beautiful little girl ... and all the nurses agreed with me."

Unable to speak through tears she then stood back as her sister Storm continued for her. She said "fearless" Carmen was never concerned with consequences and always pushed the boundaries of life.

Her father's death when she was 10 upset her life balance.

As a teenager she travelled with her family to England but when they returned to South Africa she stayed behind to complete a marketing degree.

Always popular with boys, she had several proposals of marriage. Through the "gift of the gab" on a number of occasions she talked her way into VIP areas and partied with the All Blacks at a London nightclub.

Debbie Nicholson shared secrets with Carmen during their "beautiful friendship" that only the two of them knew. Despite living in different countries they were never far apart.

"My soulmate, my best friend. I miss you Carmen, I miss you heaps."

Pastor Terry Calkin, who led the service, said violence never solved problems, "but always lurks beneath the thin layer of civility that we call society".

He praised investigators for making an arrest and bringing Carmen back to her family.

"That's why we have a police force, to ensure we all have a modicum of peace in our lives, and what a remarkable job the police have done under the leadership of [inquiry head Detective] Inspector Mark Benefield.

"Sir, you and your team have put a passionate and caring face on the otherwise sometimes brittle image of enforcement. We thank you and honour you today for the often thankless job you do in our community."

Ms Thomas had suffered the ultimate act of another person's selfishness when she was only seeking to have her deep needs met.

"Another's selfishness brought that quest to an untimely end."

Life was a gift and no one had the right to take that away, he said.

After the service, the white coffin that had stood in the middle, a bunch of colourful flowers sitting on top, was carried from the hall to the sound of Christina Aguilera's Beautiful.

Jack followed it out clutching a copy of the service sheet.

Outside, he stood and watched as people said their final goodbyes and the coffin was placed in the hearse.