boxing day 2012: Sandy Hook victims: Funeral for Dylan Hockley, 6

Funerals also held for Olivia Engel, 6, Madeline Hsu, 6, Grace McDonnell, 7

The school's psychologist, 56-year-old Mary Sherlach, and behavioural therapist, 29-year-old Rachel D'Avino, were also laid to rest

PUBLISHED: 15:01 EST, 21 December 2012 | UPDATED: 15:33 EST, 21 December 2012

The family of six-year-old Dylan Hockley have bid farewell to the young victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in a funeral service celebrating his short life.

He was remembered in a funeral service in Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, Connecticut, a week after he died alongside 19 fellow students and six teachers at the school.

Dylan's parents, who had moved from Hampshire, England to Newton two years ago, paid tribute to their son, as his eight-year-old brother Jake prepared to let off purple balloons in his memory.

As mourners arrived at the church, they were handed an order of service crammed full with colourful, smiling photos of the family's fondest memories with the energetic young boy.

Saying goodbye: A funeral was held at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel on Friday for Dylan Hockley

Day of sadness: Mourners arrive and comfort each other as purple balloons, which were let off by Dylan's older brother Jake at the end of the service, are taken inside the church

American-born Nicole and her British-born husband Ian previously spoke about their 'gorgeous angel' who was found dead in the arms of his favourite teacher, Anne Marie Murphy.

The special needs teacher, who was laid to rest following her own funeral in New York on Thursday, had tried to shield the young boy from the bullets, but also lost her life.

The Hockleys said they took 'great comfort' in the knowledge that son Dylan did not die alone as the gunman went on his murderous rampage through the school.

They hailed Dylan's teachers, including principal Dawn Hochsprung, psychologist Mery Sherlach and his class teacher Vicki Soto, who also died in a desperate bid to protect the pupils.

Dylan Hockley funeral

Remembered: Dylan, who moved to the U.S. from England two years ago, is pictured on his order of service

Celebrating a young life: Further happy family photographs adorn the inside of the order of service

Loved: More images show the life of the young boy who loved playing tag and cuddling with his family

'We cannot speak highly enough of Dawn Hochsprung and Mary Sherlach, exceptional women who knew both our children and who specifically helped us navigate Dylan's special education needs.

'Dylan's teacher, Vicki Soto, was warm and funny and Dylan loved her dearly.

'We take great comfort in knowing that Dylan was not alone when he died, but was wrapped in the arms of his amazing aide, Anne Marie Murphy.

'Dylan loved Mrs Murphy so much and pointed at her picture on our refrigerator every day.

'Though our hearts break for Dylan, they are also filled with love for these and the other beautiful women who all selflessly died trying to save our children.'

Somber: Relatives and friends arrive for the service, which comes a week after the horrific school killings

Service: The church was cordoned off as mourners arrived to pay tribute to the six-year-old Sandy Hook victim

Dylan Hockley

Anne Marie Murphy

Heroic: Dylan, left, was found wrapped in the arms of his teacher Anne Marie Murphy, left, who also died

Remembering their son, Mr and Mrs Hockley added: 'Everyone who met Dylan fell in love with him. His beaming smile would light up any room and his laugh was the sweetest music.

'He loved to cuddle, play tag every morning at the bus stop with our neighbors, bounce on the trampoline, play computer games, watch movies, the color purple, seeing the moon and eating his favorite foods, especially chocolate.

'There are no words that can express our feeling of loss. We will always be a family of four, as though Dylan is no longer physically with us, he is forever in our hearts and minds. We love you Mister D, our special gorgeous angel.'

They said Dylan was learning to read and was 'so proud' when he read them a new book every day.

Tribute: A procession leaves a church after the funeral of the school's behavioural therapist Rachel D'Avino

Service: The casket of Miss D'Avino is carried into the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Connecticut

Heartbroken: Mourners struggle to contain their tears as they leave the funeral mass for D'Avino on Friday

Miss Da'Avino

School psychologist Mary Sherlach

Heroes: Miss D'Avino is pictured left. School psychologist Mary Sherlach, right, was also laid to rest today

The Hockleys moved into a house on the same street as the mother of the gunman. They said their boys flourished in the town and the family's happiness had been 'limitless'.

'We specifically chose Sandy Hook for the community and the elementary school,' they said. 'We do not an shall never regret this choice.'

Following an almost unbearable processions of funerals in Newtown this week, three other young students were laid to rest.

Funerals were held for six-year-olds Olivia Engel and Madeline Hsu and seven-year-old Grace McDonnell, while there were visitations for Emilie Parker, six, and Josephine Gay, seven.

The school's psychologist, 56-year-old Mary Sherlach, and behavioural therapist, 29-year-old Rachel D'Avino, were also laid to rest.

Missed: Olivia Engel, 6, will also be laid to rest today. Mourners pay their respects at her wake on Thursday

Madeleine Hsu

Grace McDonnell

Innocent: Funerals were also held for Madeleine Hsu, 6, and Grace McDonnell, 7, on Friday

Victim: A funeral was also held for Olivia Engel, six. In the service, speakers recounted her last moments where a police officer picked her up while she was still alive and told her 'I love you'

Pain: Women embrace after observing a moment of silence nearby Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday

Miss D'Avino, who was remembered at a funeral in her hometown of Bethlehem, Connecticut, died just two days after her longtime boyfriend asked her parents for her hand in marriage.

He was going to propose to her on Christmas Eve.

After the massacre, it emerged that Miss D'Avino, who only began working at the school this fall, tried to draw the shooter away from children at the school, but was killed in the process.

Her friend Lissa Lovetere said teaching special needs children was a calling for Miss D'Avino.

'She had that gift, that maternal instinct. She cared for people,' Ms Lovetere told MailOnline on Sunday. 'Working with special needs children was her forte.'

boxing day 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Sandy Hook victims: Funeral for Dylan Hockley, 6

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