WELLINGTON - The Silver Ferns formed a guard of honour, All Black great Michael Jones helped to carry the coffin, and more than 1000 people packed Old St Paul's to farewell netballer Leilani Read.
Family, colleagues and team-mates spilled on to the footpath of Mulgrave St in Wellington for the funeralyesterday.
The 25-year-old died last week after suffering a stroke.
Wellington rugby player Filo Tiatia was also a pallbearer and the Silver Ferns formed their guard outside the entrance to the church.
Dave Read said his daughter's death had been difficult to believe and a trying time.
"But we have been uplifted and carried by a sea of aroha.
"In her life she never found it hard to make the back page of the paper, and in her death she smiled at me from the front page."
Wellington Netball president Kathy Doyle spoke of Leilani Read's rise from the Wellington Girls' College team to the Silver Ferns.
Family members told how she was still hoping to play for Samoa at the World Championships next month, after being forced from the Wellington team two weeks ago by illness. - NZPA