Grieving community farewells 'five angels'
The Age
Tuesday September 1, 2009
A SOLITARY white coffin carried the remains of a devoted mother and her four young children to their final resting place yesterday after an emotional funeral in Drysdale.Ashlee Holloway, 24, and her children Brodie, 2, Thomas, 18 months, and three-month-old twins Cooper and Mackenzie, died when a fire fanned by wind tore through their Clifton Springs home, reducing it to ashes early on August 16.The family had considered separate coffins but decided that would be too traumatic and instead opted for a solitary casket. Four teddy bears €” three light blue and one pink €” were placed on the lid of the coffin, each with its arms supporting the one in front.The sole survivor of the Jetty Road tragedy, Aaron Holloway, 31, was flanked by family and supported in and out of the service at the local basketball and community centre.Wraparound sunglasses hid the pain in his eyes, but others from the tight-knit community wept openly, with hundreds turning out to pay their respects and show their support for the grieving father. He was expected to speak but could not.Mr Holloway, who sustained leg injuries and smoke inhalation as he escaped the inferno, was released from Geelong Hospital last week.The service was told that Ashlee Holloway was a devoted mother who said her life was complete when she gave birth to her twins.€śShe just made motherhood look easy," her uncle Wayne Ditcham told the mourners.He read a poem that included the words: €śRemember us and only that we have gone. Or cherish our memory and let us live on."Her father Jim Faulkner, his voice choking, thanked Ashlee for giving his family so much, for their grandchildren and for sharing their love, even for a short time. He also pledged his support to his son-in-law: €śAaron, we are with you, mate."Ashlee's sister Kandis Faulkner remembered her as a tomboy who grew into a young woman with a soft side who made her laugh so much that she would cry.€śShe was happy, content and complete, and will live on in all our hearts €“ so for me this is not goodbye," she said.Gary Holt, her father-in-law, thanked the community for uniting in support. €śIt's just an absolute bloody tragedy, but we will go on . . . and live a fulfilling life."Her best friend Kate Woolfe said she had picked Ashlee to be her maid of honour at her wedding, and when she did get married she would somehow honour that pledge.She said although she was filled with sadness, "five angels" remained in her heart.
© 2009 The Age
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