Trigger warning: This post deals with violence against women and may be triggering for some readers.
Family and friends have paid tribute to Melbourne stabbing victim Masa Vukotic at a funeral at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, describing her as a funny, happy and sparkling teenager.
The 17-year-old was attacked and killed as she went on an early evening walk through a park in Doncaster, in Melbourne’s east, on March 17.
Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the Canterbury Girls Secondary College student in a service led by a priest from the Serbian Orthodox Church at the cemetery’s Boyd Chapel.
Pink roses covered a white coffin at the front of the church and some of the young mourners wore pink ribbons in their hair to represent Masa’s favourite colour.
The dead girl’s father, Slabvuljub Vukotic, said the pain was unbearable.
“It’s hard, hurts, it’s unbearable but we will try to be brave and courageous like you were,” he told the service.
“I promise we’ll try our best. You’ll live forever in our memories and in our hearts.
“I promise I will come to you one day. Until then my heart will beat for you.”
Best friend Madison Stone said Masa’s smile was like a hundred fireworks lighting up the sky.
“There was her fierce competitive spirit and her drive to always be the best and get exactly what she wanted when she wanted it, which often proved difficult but always rewarding when you saw her whole aura shift into contentedness,” she said.
“She was Masa and Masa was funny and epic and loud and boisterous and manic and happy and hellish and by far the most beautiful person in the whole wide world to me.”
A statement read on behalf of her family said Masa’s life was too short but she had many breathtaking moments.
She was described as a perfectionist who excelled at everything she did and wanted to be a lawyer.
“Since birth she was bursting with life, vitality and passion. She was 17, sparkling, outgoing, funny and intelligent and just simply one of a kind,” the family said.
Masa loved a performance art called cosplay, where participants wear costumes to represent specific characters or ideas.
“Masa had more costumes and accessories than anyone. She would take her mum shopping and she’d always find another dress to bring home to add to her ever-growing collection,” the family said.
Related content: Masa Vukotic’s mother: “She was our everything.”
“She had the skill to take selfies like no other. She was indeed the princess of selfies.
“Masa has touched all our hearts, even those who did not know her. We’ll miss her beautiful smile her funny little mannerisms and the sparkle in her big eyes.
“Masa we love you. You will be in our hearts forever.”
The service was followed by a burial within the cemetery grounds.
Mourners were invited to write a message to the teenager on cards outside the chapel.
The teenager’s death has been met with an outpouring of grief with the scene of her death, in the Koonung Creek Linear Park, becoming the site of a floral tribute to Masa.
Sean Christian Price has been charged with the teenager’s murder. He has been remanded in custody to face court again on June 16.
This article originally appeared on ABC News, and has been republished here with full permission.