Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Work and Income staff were among about 300 mourners at the funeral of Susan Leigh Cleveland in Alexandra today.
Ms Cleveland (55) known as Leigh, and her colleague Peggy Noble, were shot dead while working at the Ashburton Work and Income office on Monday. Ashburton man Russell John Tully has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Funeral celebrant Jeannie Barker said Ms Cleveland's Alexandra-based family were touched by the "many deeds of compassion that people have shown them.'' Mourners were asked to make donations to the New Zealand Guide Dog Appeal "as dogs were a particular love and passion of Leigh's,'' she said.
Family, friends and colleagues paying tribute to Ms Cleveland all mentioned her love of dogs and said her much-loved Rottweilers were like her children.She grew up in Alexandra and then moved to Fairlie and Leeston for work, before taking up a job with Work and Income in Christchurch. The earthquakes alarmed her and prompted a transfer to the Ashburton, where she was very happy, family and friends said.
Work and Income colleagues described her as hard-working and a strong-willed, highly intelligent employee who paid attention to detail.
