Daughter's tribute: You were my world

Friends and family gave emotional tributes at Glenys Stanton's funeral at All Saints Chapel at Purewa Cemetery yesterday. Photo / Natalie Slade

Glenys Stanton was remembered for living life to the full and having a "smile that would light up a room" at her funeral in Auckland yesterday.

Friends, family and co-workers gathered at Purewa Cemetery in Meadowbank to farewell the 47-year-old, who was shot dead in the bedroom of a lifestyle property in South Auckland on August 23.

Her two older sisters, Rowena Kenyon and Denise Michl, and her elder daughter, Kristen Leefe, were among the pallbearers to carry her casket into the chapel.

Ms Stanton's younger daughter Nicole Stanton gave an emotional tribute to her mother, describing her as gentle, kind, cheeky, fun and having a smile that would light up a room.

"To the world you were my mother, but to me you were my world," she said. "It feels unreal that you've been taken from me so early and in such terrible circumstances."

Ms Stanton died with Trevor Waite, 51, who was farewelled at a service in Papatoetoe last Friday.

The pair were found dead on Mr Waite's bed at his home in Opaheke, near Papakura, by his 18-year-old daughter.

Ms Stanton started work as an international flight attendant for Air New Zealand a few months ago and Nicole Stanton said she loved that her mother went after the job she'd dreamed of doing since she was young.

"It suited you perfectly and it wasn't just a job for you, it was an adventure, and you were so happy.

"The precious memories I have of times we shared together will stay locked in my broken heart.

"I stop for a moment and close my eyes hoping that when I open them you'll be there, holding me tight and back in my life."

Ms Kenyon said in her tribute that the sisters lost their mother to cancer when Ms Stanton was just 15.

"It was the hardest on Glenys, who still liked to sit on her knee for a cuddle," she said.

She said her younger sister loved life, and lived each day to the full.

She loved outdoor activities, had run a half-marathon and recently completed the Tongariro Crossing.

"Among all of this she stayed connected to her family, and we were very close."

The Rev Jo Kelly-Moore, who led the service, told mourners there was shock, anger and frustration over her death.

"It is not fair that this beautiful life lived so fully has been cut short by another," she said.

"Today we must be honest with those feelings and we gather to support one another and to care for one another."

It is believed Ms Stanton's former boyfriend John Mowatt shot her and Mr Waite after following her to Mr Waite's home and finding them together.