Mother says final goodbye to her 'little angels'

10:50am Saturday 11th October 2008

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By Clare Kennedy »

THEY were described as “two little angels”.

Murdered three-year-old Ellie and 14- month-old Isobelle were finally laid to rest as more than 100 mourners went to pay their respects.

Their funeral at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Eastleigh came nearly three weeks after they were smothered to death by their father, David Cass, who then hanged himself.

Cass killed his daughters in his caravan in the grounds of Paynes RoadMoT Centre, Shirley, where he worked as an MoT tester.

Afterwards he phoned the children’s mother Kerrie Hughes on her mobile and told her that their daughters would be “sleeping forever” and that he would soon be too, by killing himself. It was the first time he had cared for the girls after he split with Kerrie in August.

During yesterday’s funeral service a bidding prayer was said for 33-year-old Cass, asking for the “forgiveness of his sins that caused so much pain”.

A white horse-drawn glass-sided carriage carried the two coffins to the church.

Ellie’s coffin was red with yellow lining and flowers spelling ‘Princess’ while Isobelle’s coffin was pink with purple lining and had flowers spelling ‘Angel’.

As the two coffins were brought into the church, their distraught mother Kerrie sobbed uncontrollably.

Supported by her mum Lynne, 38, and gran Shirley, 63, she led a procession of friends and family – some clutching bouquets – inside.

As the congregation took their seats Bob Sinclar’s Rock This Party was played, which was one of Ellie and Isobelle’s favourite songs.

Father Michael Dennehy told mourners that everyone came with “heavy hearts” united in grief and shock.

He described Ellie and Isobelle as “two little angels” who though out of sight, would never be out of mind.

He told the congregation that their “broken hearts” could be consoled by the happy memories of the girls, who would now be their mother’s “guardian angels”.

During his sermon he said: “It is said that the price we pay for loving someone who has been tragically taken away from us is the deep pain of grief.

“I have no doubt that our two little angels Ellie and Isobelle are safe together in God’s company in that special place prepared for them in heaven.

“Kerrie, you have two angels now watching over you. In many ways they have become your guardian angels.”

Family friend Lisa Keeling fought back tears as she read out a poem she had written about the two sisters.

She said: “Time has come to say God bless, to Ellie and Belle it’s time to rest.

Up with the angels and in God’s safe arms, we will never forget your lovely charms. Our hearts are broken, surely never to mend, I will never forget you both to this end.”

Kerrie, 20, chose all of the hymns, including Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord and Amazing Grace, for the ceremony which lasted just under an hour.

She also asked people attending the funeral to wear brightly coloured clothes to celebrate the short lives of Ellie and Isobelle.