LARGELY-ATTENDED FUNERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 8 November 1946, Page 3

LARGELY-ATTENDED FUNERAL

VICTIMS OF SAD DROWNING The victims of the recent sad drowning tragedy, Joy Sunnex, Russell Birss and Rex Hart, were laid to rest side. by side in the Shannon Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. A very large number of relatives and friends attended the funeral and all places of business were closed, bearing eloquent testimony to the community's keen sense of regret at the untimely loss of three promising young lives and its deep sympathy with the respec-t-ive families in the bereavement brought to them under' such tragic circumstances. An impressive. service was conducted at the Presbyterian Church by the Rev. J. Martin, who later officiated at the graveside. The cortege to the cemetery was a very large one, comprising over 60 cars. A sad and moving sight was the oearing of the casket of Joy Sunnex from the church by the little girl's school pals. At the cemetery it was carried by Messrs. G. Wilton, G. Kempton^ W. Tobin and R, Franks, all uncles. The pallbearers for the late Russell Birss were Messrs. A. Birss (brother), T. Pigott (cousini, K. Clough, V. Judd, M. Greer and W. Harding, whil'e Messrs. J. and S. Hart (brothers), N. Batt, R. Tiller, J. Moore and A. Lang bore the casket of Rex Hart. Many beautiful floral tributes covered the caskets, evidence of the esteem in which the young people were held, while the bereaved relatives have reeeived a host of messages of sympathy.