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The family of murdered Opotiki man John Rowe say the terrible way the 78-year-old died will haunt them forever.
Speaking for the first time since his death a week ago, Mr Rowe's son Patrick and daughter Wendy Rowe pleaded for help in catching whoever was responsible for the killing.
"I would implore anyone who has any information that may assist to come forward," Patrick Rowe said yesterday.
Ms Rowe said her father had felt safe living in his Windsor St home and "he should have felt safe".
"He was 78 years old. He lived alone and we can never recall him setting out to hurt anyone."
She and her brother had grown up in the house, which held "a lot of great memories, which are now lost".
"We'll never want to go back. Just the terrible way that Dad died will never leave us. To think he had to suffer his last few minutes in terror will never leave us."
The 49-year-old and her 51-year-old brother pleaded with local residents to help police find the killer or killers.
"Not only do we need the closure and the healing," Mr Rowe said, "Windsor St and the Opotiki community also needs closure and to heal."
More than 200 people yesterday attended Mr Rowe's funeral to farewell the former Opotiki College teacher.
He was remembered as a "stoic, self-sufficient man who loved his wife, family, the sea and the environment around him".
Mr Rowe's body was found by his 85-year-old neighbour, Ted Gibson, who told mourners he had been to many funerals, but never one so tragic.
Mr Gibson said he would miss his "trusty neighbour" of 20 years.
One of the district nurses who cared for Mr Rowe said his life seemed to stop when he lost his beloved wife, Phyllis, in 1991.
Former Opotiki College principal Don Riesterer said Mr Rowe was a gentleman who was never angry, "a deadly tennis player" and "a beauty teacher".
"Some teachers just teach. John Rowe taught pupils and he challenged them and gave them vision."
Mr Rowe's casket was carried from the church to the strains of one of his favourite operas by Wagner.
Police say Mr Rowe was killed by a blunt instrument, and that two items fitting that description had been found at his home and sent for forensic testing. They would not say what the items were.
Inquiry head Detective Inspector Rob Jones said Mr Rowe's driver's licence, A" card, and remote access car key had been found in streets near his home, suggesting burglary as a possible motive.
The scene examination was expected to continue at least another day, and more police were joining the investigation team.
In yesterday's Herald, the brother of murdered Tokoroa schoolteacher Lois Dear said he was disappointed at the lack of outcry over Mr Rowe's death.
But Mr Jones said Opotiki appeared deeply upset and wanted to help police.
