The mother of a 12-year-old Sydney schoolgirl who took her own life after a serious case of bullying broke down at her daughter’s funeral and said: “I will grieve for the life you never had.”
Charlotte O’Brien, a seventh-year student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, made the decision to end her own life on September 9 after years of relentless bullying at the hands of her classmates.
Students had a day off on Friday so they could attend his funeral at their primary school, Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Bossley Park.
Her loved ones began gathering at the church around 10 a.m., many with pink ribbons in their hair because it was their favorite color.
As the service began, her parents, Mat and Kelly, tried to hold back tears as they carried their daughter’s coffin through the church, which was decorated with lavender and butterflies.
Kelly then collapsed while saying goodbye to her daughter.
“The first moment I held her in my arms will always be the best day of my life,” he said through tears.
“At one point in being her mother I knew I had met my soulmate, my best friend, she was wise beyond her years.”
Hundreds of friends, students and teachers are expected to attend Charlotte’s funeral on Friday.
Charlotte O’Brien’s mother Kelly can be seen crying over her daughter’s coffin before the funeral.
Charlotte’s parents Mat and Kelly carried their daughter’s coffin to the church (pictured)
Kelly said her daughter loved swimming and joked that she was going to “be like Moana and never leave the ocean.”
She continued: ‘I’ll miss everything about you, baby. I will miss our hugs, your kisses, your love, your beautiful smile and how every day you asked me how my day was.’
‘I will always regret the life you never had. I’ll miss you every day that ends in Y.’
At times she felt completely overwhelmed with emotion and found it difficult to speak.
His stepfather, Mat, said: ‘I love you. Thank you for being you.’
‘Thank you for being so thoughtful, so kind, thank you for being so brave.
‘Thank you for allowing me to take your mother to our first date. I had strict instructions that I needed Charlotte’s approval and I received it. Thank you for giving me the greatest honor of being your dad.’
He then read her final Father’s Day card where she describes him as “more than a captain.”
She wrote: “Dear Dad, I will always cherish you as I sow my seeds and become the captain you taught me to be.”
‘You are also like the sea. You can be calm and powerful. Strong when you have to be.
Charlotte’s parents did not expressly mention the years of bullying their daughter went through.
However, the priest noted that one in three children is bullied and asked mourners to take care of each other.
Charlotte’s parents (pictured at their daughter’s funeral) cried as they gave their eulogy.
Charlotte’s friends wore pink bows in their hair, which was her favorite color.
Charlotte O’Brien’s coffin was covered in painted butterflies and lavender (pictured)
“One in three children is 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 are we going to move forward from here? We all experience the good and the bad.
‘In these moments we must grow our hearts and minds in the work of God, we must continue moving forward.’
His parents found his suicide notes in his bedroom; Written in small pink font, she urged them to share their story to raise awareness about the impact of bullying.
He asked them to “tell the school” about the torment he went through, saying his life had become “too hard.”
Another note concerned his little brother, Will. She wrote: “Please mom, live for Will because I can’t take it anymore.”
His father previously told media that one of the most worrying aspects of his death was how happy he seemed to be on his last day.
“We had a great last day with her,” he said.
“I haven’t seen her so happy coming home from school in a long time.”
He said Charlotte was bubbly as she ate her favorite dish, creamy chicken pasta, for dinner, got all the questions right on her maths homework and did “little happy dances.”
She also baked banana bread and brought a piece to her father, still in a good mood.
After playing with his mother and little brother, he said goodnight and “literally went to the shower.”
Charlotte O’Brien (pictured) tragically took her own life after saying persistent bullying from classmates was turning her school life into hell.
The night she died, Charlotte seemed overly happy and making plans for the future.
“That was the last time we saw her alive and we couldn’t understand what had happened,” Mat said.
Police told the couple that people can appear happy before taking their own lives because they believe their problems will be resolved, but Charlotte’s parents have strongly rejected that explanation.
Mat said the family had talked about their upcoming vacation, Charlotte wanted to take a road trip, and they planned math problems to work on together the next day.
‘This is not a girl who was planning to do this. “Something happened when she went to her bedroom,” he said.
Police are searching Charlotte’s phone to see what messages she received in her final hours.
Her mother, Kelly, was wracked with guilt and regret, and asked why her daughter didn’t just come “and ask me to give her a hug that night.”
She described her daughter as the “sweetest, kindest, toughest, strongest little diva you’ll ever meet in your life.”