Hundreds turn out to farewell cancer-battle mum

Natalie Murphy (left), with son Jackson and husband Greg. Photo / Supplied

The woman who captured hearts after a brave battle with breast cancer was farewelled yesterday at a moving ceremony which she helped put together herself.

Natalie Murphy was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, but at the start of the month she was told she had only two months to live and began cramming a lifetime into the little time she had left.

But her time was cruelly cut short on Monday and she was farewelled at a service in Ellerslie yesterday afternoon.

Her husband, Greg, read the vow he had written for the New Year's Day ceremony the couple had planned to celebrate their 10-year marriage.

"It was you who showed me how to love - you saved us and we grew to be strong ... you gave me a beautiful son and you showed me that you were always passionate, even with this disease. The world that we worked so hard to build changed ... as we faced a devastating tragedy, but you still stayed strong," he told more than 300 people who gathered to say goodbye to his wife.

"Know that you make me complete just by being you. I love you now and will love you always. Thank you for choosing me."

Mr Murphy said: "She left behind a lot of grief - a lost family, a dazed husband and our precious son Jackson. She so desperately wanted to see him grow up. This part is probably the hardest for me to take - she was born to be a mum."

Mr Murphy promised his wife he would do his best to raise their 2-year-old son.

People in 20 countries who had been touched by Mrs Murphy's battle with cancer had told Mr Murphy they would burn candles for her.

And how she had inspired people closer to home was evident by the number of people who had never met her who went to the service and left condolence messages for her family.

Mrs Murphy's father, Alasdair Swan, was held by his wife, Denise, as he spoke of how his daughter's battle had inspired others to consider their own health.

Mr Murphy had been told stories of young women marching into their GP's and demanding to be checked but were told they were too young.

"And they said, 'Yes, but we know Natalie Murphy, we're not too young'," Mr Swan said.

"And I remember Denise and I lying beside her in bed just last weekend, talking quietly to her. And she told us she was happy. She was contented - she had a husband she loved. But the tears poured down her face because she couldn't see Jackson any longer."

Before she died, Mrs Murphy made a video that was played at the end of the service.

She spoke of how happy she was and how blessed her life had been.