Tears mingled with the teeming rain at the Wollongong church where champion marathon runner Kerryn McCann was farewelled today as an ordinary person with extraordinary ability.
The 41-year-old dual Commonwealth gold medallist died on Sunday after the breast cancer she thought she had beaten spread to her liver and brain.
Her lilac-coloured coffin, covered in pale roses and with her favourite pair of runners placed on it, was carried into the Church of Christ at Figtree, where hundreds of people gathered for the emotional funeral service for the devoted mother of three.
Her husband Greg, who arrived with their children Benton, 11, Josie, 5, and Cooper, 14 months, delivered a eulogy.
``When I walked in here it lifted me up,'' he said, struggling with his emotions.
``It reminds me she was so vibrant, so sweet.
``We've been married 17 and a half years. She was the sweetest person I ever met.''
At times wiping away tears, he said his wife enjoyed the simple life, and was not materialistic.
``For a short time there we had absolutely everything,'' he said.
``We couldn't have wanted any more.''
Schoolchildren, some clutching photographs of the athlete, were among the mourners who also included fellow athlete Raelene Boyle (a breast cancer survivor) and long distance runner Craig Mottram.
They were told McCann had been a tireless contributor to charity, an ``uncelebrity'' shying away from awards and accolades.
``Kerryn was a mixture between the epitomes of a good old Aussie `have a go' and `do unto others as you would have them do unto you','' her running partner Murray Smith said.
Instead of flowers, mourners were asked to donate in Kerryn's name to Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Firefighters in their dress uniforms formed a guard of honour as Kerryn's coffin was carried from the church.
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