- Emilie Parker, 6, Josephine Gay, 7, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6, were buried this morning, ending a tear-jerking week of ceremonies
- Girls were shot dead when a gunman stormed the elementary school with an automatic rifle on December 14, killing 20 children and six staff
By Helen Pow
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Laid to rest: Little Emilie Parker, pictured, was laid to rest on Saturday as the last of the funerals for the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting were held
The heartbroken families of Emilie Parker, Ana Marquez-Greene and Josephine Gay laid to rest their little angels today as the last of the funerals were held for the 26 Sandy Hook shooting victims.
At a ceremony in Ogden, Utah, where her family lived before moving to Newtown, Emilie's family and friends remembered the six-year-old as they lowered a white child's size coffin into the ground.
Her father, Robbie Parker, described his little girl as someone who loved to make people smile and never missed a chance to draw a picture or make a card.
The outpouring of grief was overwhelming in the northern Utah city and volunteers tied ribbons around the town's trees, signs and utility poles in Emilie's favourite pink.
However, only close friends and family attended the funeral, that commenced at 10am, though it was broadcast live at a nearby chapel for the public.
On Thursday night, her relatives released 26 lanterns into the sky at a memorial service. Emilie's dad released the final lantern, a pink one, into the sky.
In a press conference, Parker teared up as said how the world was a better for having had Emilie in it.
'I'm so blessed to be her dad,' he said.
At a public memorial on Thursday, Parker said he felt the compassion from the public was coming from a 'pure place.'
Devastated family: Alissa Parker, left, and her husband, Robbie Parker, center, carry their daughters following funeral services for their 6-year old daughter, Emilie
Emotional: The casket of 6-year-old shooting victim Emilie Parker is carried by pallbearers following her funeral services
'I want you to know as we saw all of the ribbons and all of the effort you put into that, it made me and Alissa really feel like we were getting a big hug from everybody,' he said.
Emilie was buried alongside her grandfather, who was killed in a bicycle accident a few months ago.
The heartbreaking event was held on the same day as fellow victims Josephine Gay, 7, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6, were laid to rest, ending a tear-jerking procession of ceremonies.
Being strong: Robbie Parker, pictured with his daughter, said the world was better for having had Emilie in it
Overcome: Mourners embrace following Emilie Parker's funeral in Utah
Josephine's funeral mass was held at Saint Rose of Lima on Saturday morning. The first grader had just turned seven the week of the shooting.
On Monday, purple balloons — Josephine's favorite color — were tied to the family mailbox and those of all her neighbours.
''Joey' is a beautiful little girl, may she never be forgotten and live forever in our hearts,' wrote Polly Larsen, a family friend, on Facebook, according to NBC.
Also buried: Josephine Gay, 7, pictured left, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6, right, were also laid to rest on Saturday morning, ending a tear-jerking procession of ceremonies
Ana's funeral: A horse drawn carriage carrying the body of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene leaves the church after her funeral in Bloomfield, Connecticut, on Saturday
New to school: Young Ana Marquez-Greene had just moved to Newtown two months ago, partly because her parents wanted her to attend the esteemed Sandy Hook school
Life cut short: Marquez-Greene, 6, was killed when gunman Adam Lanza opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week
Flowers: Photos showing those killed in the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School are imprinted on fake roses at a memorial in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown on Saturday
Young Ana Marquez-Greene had just moved to Newtown two months ago, partly because her parents wanted her to attend the esteemed Sandy Hook school.
Ana's funeral was held on Saturday morning at First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
'As much as she's needed here and missed by her mother, brother and me, Ana beat us all to paradise,'Ana's father, Jimmy Greene, wrote on Facebook.
On Friday morning, millions of Americans observed a moment's silence to remember the three children and the scores of other victims who were shot to death when a gunman burst into Sandy Hook Elementary school and showered its classrooms with bullets.
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