Jo Yeates was buried today in the Hampshire village where she grew up.
Yeates, a 25-year-old landscape designer, who was murdered, was laid to rest after her funeral at St Mark’s Church in Ampfield.
Her body was found dumped on a verge in Failand, North Somerset on Christmas Day – three miles from her home in Clifton, Bristol.
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Her neighbour, Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak, 32, has been charged with her murder and will stand trial in October.
At the ceremony, where 300 people gathered to commemorate her life, Yeates’ wicker coffin was carried into the church and followed by her parents, David and Theresa, who still live in the village.
They were followed by her brother Chris, his partner Alla Ritch and her son.
Yeates’ boyfriend Greg Reardon walked behind them, with his mother, father and brother Frank.
Daffodils, small sunflowers and other spring flowers adorned the coffin.
Reverend Peter Gilks, who led the service, described the service as “quiet and reflective.”
“There were a lot of people here, some who had taken great trouble to come and there was a very reverend and prayerful atmosphere,” he said.
“There was a huge number of people here who were sat very quietly and that set the tone of the service.
“People were sharing their grief and offering their support to the family. “It was quiet and reflective more than sombre.
“The family said they didn’t want to make it a celebration, I think it’s too early for that.
“There are things in Jo’s life that give them great joy and the service was about helping with their sense of grief and loss because it’s still very early days since her death.
“There were tributes made to Jo which spoke very warmly of her and very sad prayers for her soul.”
He added that it was “impossible” to say how the family might have been feeling, but that in the congregation as a whole, there was “grief and tears”.
The service was followed by a private internment attended only by close family members and invited guests.
More than 50 floral tributes were placed outside the church, including bunches from friends, family members, Miss Yeates’ employer and Avon and Somerset Police.
