Helena Chan, mother of Andrew Chan, weeps after the funeral service. Photo / Getty Images
Helena Chan, mother of Andrew Chan, weeps after the funeral service. Photo / Getty Images
Friends and family of Myuran Sukumaran have sung the same songs the convicted drug smuggler recited as he faced an Indonesian firing squad 10 days ago.
The notes of Amazing Grace and Hallelujah echoed throughout the DaySprings church in Sydney on Saturday as hundreds gathered to farewell Sukumaran.
A tin of paint brushes next to Sukumaran's coffin served as a poignant reminder of the passion the 34-year-old turned himself to while on death row in Indonesia.
Ivar Schou, a volunteer at Kerobokan prison, remembered the Bali nine ringleader as a kind person who always thought of others.
Raji Sukamaran, (C) mother of Myuran Sukumaran, walks alongside family and friends as Myuran's coffin is brought into the church during the funeral service. Photo / Getty Images
A mourner signs a registry book upon arrival at the funeral service for executed Bali nine member Myuran Sukamaran. Photo / Getty Images
Chintu Sukamaran, (3rd L) brother of Myuran Sukumaran, walks alongside friends and family. Photo / Getty Images
"He had an inner strength and charisma I've never seen before," he told the service on Saturday.
"Until the end, under very difficult circumstances, in prison for 10 years, he was helping and comforting all others in Kerobokan prison in Bali," Mr Schou said, adding he would work to abolish the death penalty.
"I miss you so much my friend."
Among the crowd was artist Ben Quilty, who forged a close friendship with Sukumaran as his mentor.
The brother of fellow Bali nine smuggler Andrew Chan, who was farewelled on Friday, Michael Chan, was also at the funeral, alongside Mr Sukumaran's family.
Family and friends were wearing orange ribbons, to symbolise Mr Sukumaran's favourite colour.
Mourners also sang Sukumaran's favourite song, 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.
His cousin Niranjela Karunatilake spoke of his selflessness, including selling his paintings to pay for an inmate's life-saving operation.
"Myu taught us to love or how to love," she said.
"What the world is seeing now is what we already knew."
Recent events are difficult to comprehend, Ms Karunatilake said, and left her questioning faith and hope.
She said Sukumaran took care of and looked after his fellow inmates at Kerobokan prison.
Describing him as a kind, gentle giant, she said he may have appeared intimidating but his smile dispelled the myth.
"He smiled with his eyes, just like the way our grandmother does."
Another inmate who shared a room with Sukumaran wrote that even in his final moments, Sukumaran wanted to make sure the programs he oversaw in jail were in good hands.
Friend and artist Ben Quilty said Myuran didn't want to die, but did so with courage and dignity.
"He used his visual language to tell the world who Myuran Sukumaran really was and right until the end he communicated with the world from an isolation cell with a firing squad preparing to put bullets through his chest," Mr Quilty said.
"Under unimaginable circumstances Myuran was making the most potent and powerful anti death penalty images the world has seen in a long, long time.
"Myu did want to live. He had many paintings to make."
Describing the end as horrific for Sukumaran, Quilty also shared a lighthearted moment from their final conversation.
"Myu did call me the day before he was executed," an emotional Mr Quilty said.
"I saw the number coming in and I picked up the phone and I said 'Myu' and he said 'is that the second best artist in Australia."
Andrew Chan's funeral takes place in Sydney
Andrew Chan says he died having "fought a good fight" in a poignant eulogy from beyond the grave.
The Bali Nine drug smuggler thanked his family and supporters in a self-penned message written for his own funeral as thousands gathered to farewell him in Sydney on Friday.
"I know it's a sad day and we all wish it never came to this. However it's funny in death there is always a lesson to learn," Chan wrote in his eulogy, read out at his funeral by close friend Mark Soper.
The coffin of Andrew Chan is placed into a hearse. Photo / Getty Images
A general view of the funeral service for executed Bali nine member Andrew Chan. Photo / Getty Images
A general view of the funeral service for executed Bali nine member Andrew Chan. Photo / Getty Images
Ken Yock Chan, father of Andrew Chan, weeps as his son's coffin is put into the hearse during the funeral service. Photo / Getty Images
Michael Chan attends the funeral service for his brother and executed Bali nine member Andrew Chan. Photo / Getty Images
'We learn that we don't need to be old to die, nor do we need to have something wrong with us, but we learn that when it's time to go, home has the kitchen sink ready.
"My last moments here on earth I sang out hallelujah I ran the good race, I fought the good fight and came out a winner in God's eyes."
"While he lead the seven prisoners to the place they were going to be killed they sang... when their voice started to slow down Andrew told them, "Come on boys, we can sing better than this".
'When they enter the field they sing Amazing Grace. When they were tied up at the pole they were singing 10,000 Reasons - the song we sang on our engagement day, our wedding day.
"They all managed to sing the first verse, and the second verse halfway when they took him."
She spoke of how he hated wearing his glasses but chose to wear them on the night he was killed just so he could look the executioners in the eyes.
Ms Herewila-Chan also shared the final letter she wrote to him: "I love you so much. Don't worry about me, I will be fine. I still believe in miracles".
Sombre crowds dressed in black filed into Hillsong Church in Sydney's north-west on Friday morning for what has been billed as a 'celebration service' for the Bali Nine heroin smuggler following his death in Indonesia last month.
Chan's devastated mother Helen tearfully embraced family members, while older brother Michael Chan was one of the pallbearers.
Perched at the front of the memorial was a jersey from Chan's beloved Penrith Panthers NRL team, which Michael referenced when he spoke of things he would miss about his brother.
"I miss the stupid arguments we'd have which NRL team was better - the Panthers or the Dogs," he said. "I will allow your nephew to grow up supporting the Panthers - one of his last wishes."
Michael said he had promised to be there until the end for Andrew, and look after his wife Feby who he now considered a sister.
He spoke of his brother's transformation during his decade behind bars and how people deserve second chances in life.
"Andrew was a great son, brother, uncle. People make mistakes in life and deserve a second chance," Michael said.
"He showed us all even when we have such a heavy burden over our head we can still change into a better human being.
"You have done me proud and the family because you have done so much in such a short space of time."
Among the guests packed into the crowded convention centre was the Bali Nine duo's lawyer, Julian McMahon, who embraced mourners and sat several rows from the front.
A montage of photos from Chan's early life and his time in prison was played throughout the service, as well as mobile phone footage of him singing a ballad with other prisoners.
Chan's friend, Miranda Ridington, told mourners how his new partner Feby changed his life after their love slowly blossomed over four years.
"Feby brought out the best in him," she said. "She brought discipline into his life. It's amazing how a woman can do that to a man.
"He became the Prince Charming to his Princess Feby."
A pastor who was with Chan and fellow smuggler Sukumaran on the Indonesian prison island until they faced the firing squad, says the Chan family had wanted a small service but that the public response to the executions had changed that.
Pastor Buckingham said the outpouring of grief by the public since the April 29 executions made it clear that a smaller church could not have been used for the service.
The two-hour service was streamed live online.
For those planning to buy flowers, his family asked that people instead adopt 'the pay it forward attitude and bless someone'.
