Tampa, Florida -- Wednesday, family and friends of Phoebe Jonchuck are honoring her memory.
Hundreds turned out for the 5-year-old's funeral at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church to say their final goodbyes.
Her father, John Jonchuck, is accused of throwing her from a St. Petersburg bridge last week. It's a case that touched so many in the community, even those who didn't know her.
It was a heart-felt and heartbreaking half hour service for Phoebe. Her family is remembering her laugh, playful spirit, and the impact she had on so many in her short life.
Tears of sorrow flowed out of the church at Phoebe's funeral.
The family requested news cameras remain outside during the service. Inside, her kindergarten teacher and her grandmother reflected on the 5-year-old's love of life. "Loving school, and loving her family, loving to dance, sing, laugh, joke, smile," says Phoebe's grandmother, Michele Jonchuck.
Her family says Phoebe also loved butterflies and a baby doll she named "Lucy." The doll was by Phoebe's side during the service and will always be a piece of her that her grandma can hold on to.
"She's just such a special person, and as her 'MawMaw' I loved all loved her more than anything in this entire world," says Michele Jonchuck.
Phoebe's mom and others wore bright colors - Phoebe's favorite.
The attorney who called 911 and the DCF hotline to report John Jonchuck's bizarre behavior hours before Phoebe's death also attended.
While the family tried to comfort one another, they want the public to know Phoebe was cared for, despite what went on between her parents. "Phoebe had a wonderful life. She was loved by the family," says Phoebe's uncle, Bryan Morris.
"She was my world. I truly, truly loved her," says Jonchuck. "She was an angel here, and she's an angel up there now," Jonchuck says.
Phoebe has now been laid to rest near her great grandmother.
Memorial for Phoebe's Elementary School
The family is asking people who want to honor Phoebe with a memorial, to donate to her school, Cleveland Elementary in Seminole Heights. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to the school: 723 E. Hamilton Ave., Tampa, FL 33604. Checks should be made payable to "Cleveland Elementary" with a note in the memo line: "Phoebe Jonchuck Memorial Fund." Once money is raised, school leaders and Phoebe's family will decide how to use the money in Phoebe's honor.
Family coping with loss, Father facing murder charges
Phoebe's family is torn between coping with the loss of the precious 5-year-old, while struggling to find forgiveness for her father, who's now facing murder charges.
"Obviously there had to been something that snapped," says Phoebe's grandmother and John Jonchuck's mother, Michele Jonchuck.
Jonchuck's mom says she doesn't have an explanation for what her son's accused of doing. "I don't understand, but I have to forgive him, because I'll never go to heaven if I don't forgive him. I'm not happy with him, who would be, you know? I have to say the child loved her daddy," says Jonchuck.
It makes it even harder for mourners to try to understand why the tragedy happened. "That's a question that maybe one day can be answered, or it never will," says Jonchuck. Jonchuck's mom hasn't visited her son in jail yet. First, she wanted to focus on laying Phoebe to rest.
But for Richard Orford, who recently shared video that he shot of Phoebe, the anger for Phoebe's accused killer, John Jonchuck, was too much to take. He was escorted out of the funeral, after he shouted during the service that Jonchuck should lose his life.
It made a painful day for the family even harder. "I heard the outburst," says Phoebe's Uncle, Bryan Morris. "Everyone reacts different to things."
