Karen McGovern and Fernando Marino laid to rest at emotional funeral

Cooper Marino, 5, would like to tell his mum and dad about the glowing stars that colour his bedroom at night when he turns off the light.His little sister, Jaylee, 3, just wants her parents to know how much she loves drawing for them.The heartbreaking messages drew audible sobs from grief-stricken mourners at a joint funeral service held yesterday for Karen McGovern and Fernando Marino.The chapel at Hansen and Cole, Kembla Grange, was filled to overflowing with more than 400 people gathering to farewell the popular Albion Parkcouple.Mr Marino, 32, died on August 13, shortly after he and his partner of 10 years were struck by a car as they crossed a road. Ms McGovern, 29, survived the impact but died in hospital three days later.The couple had been on a trip to Melbourne to watch their beloved Sydney Swans take on Richmond at the MCG, as a belated birthday surprise for Ms McGovern.Surrounded by family, their orphaned children yesterday sat just metres from the couple's coffins.They stood in death as in life, side by side.Reminders of their love of sport adorned the chapel, including a Sydney Swans' scarf and jerseys from their favourite NRL teams - Cronulla Sharks for Ms McGovern, Sydney Roosters for Mr Marino.Michael Marino, the children's uncle, read out Cooper and Jaylee's final touching messages to their treasured parents.They both conveyed the simple, overwhelming love two special and deeply adored children have for their family."Cooper would like me to say that, 'I love you, Mum and Dad. I love watching TV with my mum and I love playing Beyblade with my dad'," he said."He wants them to know, 'I have glowing stars in my room'."From Jaylee, Michael read, "I love my Mummy and Daddy and I love to draw for Mummy, Daddy and Cooper."While grieving for his niece and nephew, Michael was also coming to terms with losing his only brother.He described Fernando as "sweet and friendly" and said he was rarely in trouble as a child.As youngsters the brothers loved to play cricket with their friends, and just two days ago Michael took Cooper and Jaylee to one of their favourite playing spots to count the dents in a nearby metal fence - they counted 100.He recalled how 10 years ago his brother, a Portuguese boy who drove a Proton decked out with a massive subwoofer amplifier, met Karen - a quintessential Aussie girl."He found Karen, a girl in a pink bikini and who loved Jimmy Barnes - she was as Aussie as they come," Michael Marino said."When he said he was going to a Jimmy Barnes concert, I knew it was love."Michael had pledged to his brother that the family would always look after the children.Salvation Army captain Ray Lotty read out a heartfelt eulogy on behalf on Karen McGovern's sisters Sherree, Melissa and Vanessa.They described a woman who was both a sister and a best friend."Your smile would light up the room," they wrote."Growing up we had the best times, even if it was playing in the street or on family holidays."Always experimenting with her appearance, Karen McGovern would keep her sisters guessing by adding new tattoos, piercings or changing her hair colour.When she met Fernando, her family were thrilled, and they welcomed him into the family with open arms."He always treated Karen like the princess she was - for that we can't thank him enough," they wrote.