More than 100 people gathered today to say goodbye to Bootle mum Elisha Brabin and three of her children, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, following their deaths in a house fire earlier this year. The four family members were found in their home after a blaze in the early hours of September 22, and the fire service later confirmed the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery from an electric scooter.
The funeral was held at Thornton Garden of Rest, with four horse-drawn carriages travelling from Bedford Road, past the family home on Stone Square in Bootle, before arriving at the garden of rest.
Cortege and family tributes
The horses were dressed in white, blue and pink for Elisha, 36, Leo, 16, Ellis, eight, and Prudence, seven, respectively. Elisha's husband and father to Ellis and Prudence, Kane Stephenson, followed the cortege wearing a black suit, black shirt, green tie and sunglasses, with ribbons for Elisha and the three children pinned to his blazer.
Speaking before the service, grandparents Bob and Zaz Stephenson said: "Today our families come together for the funeral of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence Brabin. After many difficult weeks, it means a great deal to be together to remember them and say the hardest goodbye."
They added: "We would like to thank everyone who has shown such kindness over the recent weeks. The messages of support and the knowledge that so many people have kept us in their thoughts have brought us all real comfort. We are also deeply grateful to the emergency services for their efforts, and to those individuals who have continued to support us throughout this time."
"We now have to begin rebuilding our lives. We'll do that slowly, looking after one another along the way. Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence will be missed every day and our love for them will continue."
Service and memories
The horses and carriages were lined up in a pack of four before the coloured coffins, engraved with each of their names, were taken inside the chapel as You by Louyah played. Family members were joined by members of the community, representatives from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, and from Presfield School, St Elizabeth's R C Primary School and Acre View School.
Once the chapel was filled, with people watching on a screen outside on a cold November afternoon, a friend of Kane thanked those who had come and the community for its emotional and financial support. Celebrants Tracey Rogers and Emily Ridgway shared statements put together by the family, remembering Elisha as "the most wonderfully strong woman throughout her life" and an advocate for autism who fought for the educational rights of children.
Tributes from each school were read, recalling Leo as kind and caring, Ellis as a creative boy who loved growing things in the garden, and Prue as "a princess in every sense of the word". A gallery of photos was shown during the service while Reputation by Post Malone played.
Following prayers, people moved to a private burial and released doves in memory of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence.
