Ashburton mum Cindy George, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning with three of her children, has been remembered as one of a kind and a devoted mum.
About 400 people attended a funeral for the four today, and family members say their deaths will hopefully spark education around the accident.
Four caskets from one family were taken into today's service – a mother and her three children, aged five and under.
The family died two weeks ago in what police believe was an accidental gassing from a car left running in a garage attached to the Tinwald house the family were looking after.
The service was attended by hundreds from around the country, Australia and the Cook Islands, where Ms George came from five years ago.
"She was just bubbly, full of life," says Ms George's friend, Adrian Van't Wout. "She was actually a really awesome person to be around."
The whole community has rallied around the family since the tragedy, offering food, money and things to help.
"I have never come close to a community that have come together and pulled so much," says Ms George's cousin, Poko Ngaru.
Ms George was remembered as a devoted and loving mother, and her children as being filled with joy. She had two other children, one of whom had travelled from the Cook Islands to be at today's service.
During the service, members of the family talked about the one positive to come out of this tragedy – the lesson to the wider community on the severity and speed of carbon monoxide poisoning.
"Cindy's probably one of many that still don't know about carbon monoxide, so let's highlight it; let's put it out there so that everyone is more aware about the carbon monoxide poisoning," says Mr Ngaru.
The Christchurch president of the family's church said he was shocked when news of the accident broke and he himself didn't realise the gas could be so lethal.
"For it to cover a whole house – where the children were in comparison to her was some distance – and it's amazing it could have covered a whole house," he says.
The coroner is now investigating the deaths.
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