There was the Mark "Chopper" Read who committed armed robberies and attempted to kidnap a judge, then there was the loyal and trustworthy family man.
The "one of a kind" father and husband was laid to rest at an invitation-only funeral on Monday.
Others will get their chance to say whatever they like about the notorious crime figure turned author at another service on Thursday.
Friend Troy Johnston said the private Fawkner service was what Read would have wanted.
"He's left behind a wife and two boys as a man and a father and that's how he should be remembered," Mr Johnston told Network Ten.
He described the funeral as very personal.
Kerry Johnston, another friend, said the service was beautiful.
"It was a real remembrance of Mark and the way he was with his family, friends, how genuine he was," she said.
Lonergan and Raven funeral director Nigel Davies said a public service will be held for Read, who died aged 58 last week after a battle with liver cancer, on Thursday in Clifton Hill.
"He has always said that he didn't mind who got up and said what at his funeral," Mr Davies told AAP.
Read spent more than 23 years in jail for crimes including armed robbery, assault and kidnapping, including trying to abduct a Victorian County Court judge at gunpoint.
He once claimed he was involved in killing 19 people and the attempted murder of 11 others.
He was famously portrayed by Eric Bana in the 2000 film Chopper.
Read was also Australia's best-selling true crime author, with copies of his first book Chopper: From the Inside selling more than 300,000 copies.
Mr Johnston described him as "one of a kind".
"He was one of the most generous and loyal friend and trustworthy people I've ever met in my life," he said.
