Family, friends of Pheobe Bishop to lay slain Bundaberg teen to rest at funeral
A teenager allegedly murdered by her housemates will be laid to rest by family and friends on Monday as mourners remember the girl for her 'beautiful soul' and being 'forever 17'.
Pheobe Bishop was last seen alive on the morning of May 15 at Airport Dr in Bundaberg, where she was due to fly to Brisbane and then to Western Australia to visit her boyfriend.
The 17-year-old was declared missing after she failed to check in to her scheduled flight – sparking a massive search effort that lasted weeks.
It ended in tragedy when police confirmed human remains discovered in the Good Night National Scrub Park outside of Gin Gin on June 6 were Pheobe's.
Pheobe's housemates Tanika Bromley, 33 and James Wood, 34, have been charged with the teenager's murder. They are also facing two counts each of misconduct with a corpse.
The teen's family and friends will gather to lay her to rest later on Monday afternoon prior to a private cremation at the Springfield Gardens Crematorium in Elliott Heads.
The funeral notice for Pheobe – affectionately known as 'Nanny McPhee' – states she was 'late of Gin Gin and formerly of Windsor, New South Wales. Beloved daughter of Kylie and Ray, Kevin and Stacey. Dearly loved sister of Jamie, Jesse, Kaylea, Ruby-Leigh, Aybel and sister-in-law to Janay. Loving aunty to Tallullah. Much loved niece, cousin and friend to many'.
Pheobe's family have requested donations to the teen's GoFundMe page – which has amassed more than $8000 – in lieu of floral tributes.
Messages on the funeral notice pay tribute to the free-spirited girl, who is being remembered for being 'forever 17.'
One woman, known only as Ashley, wrote: 'My sincerest condolences to Kylie and family. Sending so much love and strength to everyone. May your beautiful soul rest in peace Pheobe!'
Holly Morton said she would 'forever cherish' their memories together, writing Pheobe would 'truly will be missed by those that knew you and now the world'.
'Thank you for being the human you were … Missing you more the ever Phee,' her message continues.
Others offer condolences to Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson and her siblings.
In a message on June 28, Allison Schultz and Kaylee-Jayde Wallace wrote: 'Kaylee-Jayde and I (Allison), send our love and deepest heartfelt condolences to Kylie and Ray and all the family. May she always fly with the butterflies!'
A woman known as Shayna wrote: 'To Phoebe's family, I'm so very sorry for your loss, I hadn't known her but she seemed like such a beautiful young girl. I'm glad you're able to put her to rest, so she's able to be at peace.'
Heartbreak for 'perfectly unique' daughter
Monday's private service follows weeks of tributes from a community left in mourning at the teen's sudden death.
In a statement on Monday, Ms Johnson told the ABC the family was 'devastated' they had to navigate the tragedy.
'This is absolutely everybody's worst nightmare, however, we promised to get Phee home and give her a send-off that Phee would approve of and that's what will happen,' Ms Johnson told the network.
Floral tributes across the Gin Gin and Bundaberg regions emerged in the wake of Pheobe's disappearance – including outside the house she was living in with Mr Wood and Ms Bromley.
A candlelight vigil was held in Bundaberg on June 9, with attendees adorning flowers, candles and decorations around a large tree.
Paying tribute to her daughter, Ms Johnson said she never expected a situation like that would happen to her.
'Now, unfortunately, we know that she is not going to come home to us,' she said.
'I have no words that could ever, ever describe what the last three-and-a-half weeks … it's just weighed us down.'
She recalled her daughter always being her 'perfectly uniquely' self, saying she was 'glorious'.
'Phee was more than glorious,' she said.
'She was compassionate, she was caring, she was resilient, she was relentless at times.'
Another vigil was held in Gin Gin a day earlier.
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