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Hundreds of mourners said their final goodbyes to popular Leybourne teenager Megan Fox today.
St Mary’s Church in West Malling was awash with colour as friends, relatives and former teachers attended the funeral of the 17-year-old, who died in hospital from a brain tumour last month.
Some had to stand and extra seating was brought in to accomodate everyone.
A flautist played as her woven coffin was brought in, topped with sunflowers.
There were also floral tributes saying “Sissy”, “Our Meggie Moo” and in the shape of a rainbow. Balloons also decorated the front of the church.
Her sister Jess read the poem If Roses Grow in Heaven, followed by the message she left Meg on the day she was diagnosed with the tumour.
Her father Chris added: “We miss you Meggie Moo. You have left a huge hole in our life but you will live on and in our fundraising.”
The family plan to set up a fund in Megan’s name to help local families whose children are facing life changing and terminal illnesses and disabilities.
His voice broke as he paid tribute to a “wonderful, caring, beautiful, loving daughter.”
He said: “She was a real trooper who never moaned about how poorly she felt and who was more mature than her young years.
“She was always put others before herself.”
He explained how she had befriended and helped other patients who had debilitating illnesses from her hospital bed, using social networking sites.
A Facebook page dedicated to her has been joined by more than 1,500 people.
Reverend David Green, who led the service, told mourners: “It is not often I have to address people from the pulpit but I do today and that is because the church is heaving with people.”
He said that Megan, who shares her name with an American actress, had been loved by her community.
He added: “She may not have been a Hollywood star but she was clearly a star to you all.”
Guests cried while Act of Remembrance by The Proclaimers played as her coffin was carried out of the church.
A cremation took place at Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone.
To donate to Megan’s fund email meg.foxfundraising@yahoo.co.uk