She moved from coffin to coffin at Lockhart Cemetery, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around the hard wooden cases.
But when Jenny Geppert came to the white flower-covered box holding her "darling big sister", her grief spilled over.
The devastating impact of the deaths of the Hunt family at their south-west NSW farm was evident in that moment.
Hours later, more than 1000 Lockhart residents, friends and family gathered to farewell mother Kim, husband Geoff, and children Phoebe, six, Fletcher, 10, and Mia, 8.
And there was not a shred of judgment from the assembly over the apparent murder-suicide.
Ms Hunt and her children's bodies with gunshot wounds were found in their picturesque home next to canola fields on September 9.
The next day police found Mr Hunt's body in a dam on the rural property with a gun nearby.
While the community mourned the deaths of the sporty, talented, kind-hearted and adored Hunt family, the impact did not spark finger-pointing.
Ms Geppert told a memorial service at Lockhart on Tuesday the tragedy was a reminder of the importance of empathy, kindness and consideration.
"May you teach your children that competitiveness is not as important as compassion," she said.
"Teach them to replace tormenting with tolerance, sacrifice your ego for the goodwill of others.
"And regardless of your opinion you must respect that it is not the only one."
Ms Geppert spoke of visiting her sister's home, which is still cordoned off with police tape, and realising all the joys of the property had vanished.
"The trees will blossom and bare fruit untasted," she said.
"The tennis court stands empty, the horses unridden, the bike track is silent."
Despite Mr Hunt's role in the tragedy, Ms Geppert said she loved him and wished she was there for him in his time of need.
Mentions of the 2012 car accident that almost claimed Ms Hunt's life was a reminder of the struggles the family had faced over the past couple of years.
Mr Hunt's friend Paul said his late mate spent 16 hours a day at his wife's bedside trying to coax her from a coma.
"His determination to get his beloved wife well again did not waiver throughout Kim's rehabilitation and recovery," he said.
At the time doctors doubted the doting mother would walk again, recover her memory or wake up.
But "tenacity" pulled her through, the memorial service heard, and she went back to work as a nurse at Lockhart District hospital.
In a marquee lined with butterflies, students from the Hunt children's school sang in front of black and white photos of their late classmates.
Ten-year-old Fletcher was remembered as the April Fool's day baby who came out running while Mia was a budding pianist with a creative flair.
Although the youngest, Phoebe was the bossiest with plenty of sass.
Wagga Wagga Superintendent Bob Noble said the lack of ill-feeling in the wake of the deaths was a testament to the community.
"It's been a difficult two weeks, I suspect probably the worst two weeks post the war that this community has ever experienced," he said.
Share
