18 Sep 2011

Funerals of final fire victims

10:02 am on 18 September 2011

The last five victims of Australia's worst house fire have been laid to rest after an emotional funeral in Brisbane.

Nearly 2000 mourners were at the Citipointe Church at Carindale on Saturday in south Brisbane to farewell five members of three generations of the Taufa, Matauaina and Lee families.

A brass band played hymns as the coffins of Fusi and Annamaria Taufa, La'Haina and Kahlani Matauaina and their cousin Ardelle Lee, 15, were wheeled into the church.

Kahlani, aged three, was the youngest victim of the fire at a two-storey house at Slacks Creek that claimed a total of 11 lives three weeks ago.

Family members sobbed and comforted each other as they laid grass mats and floral tributes on the caskets.

Reverend Lu Senituli told the congregation no words could capture their pain.

"The world stopped for them, Australia cried for them, strangers wept for them and with them, and under their tent, these families were held together, first and foremost by their faith in God," he said.

Reverend Siupeli Taliai told the congregation that while death was end of human life it marked a new beginning in the relationship with God.

Logan Mayor Pam Parker expressed her "heartfelt compassionate love" and told the families they were not alone.

Saturday was the final day of mourning for those who lost their lives.

On Wednesday a funeral was held for the other victims, Neti Lale and her five children - Jerry, Paul, Lafoa'i, Sela and Richie.

The loss of life was the worst in Queensland since the Palace Backpackers Hostel blaze at Childers killed 15 people in 2000.