By Ingrid Hipkiss
Nineteen years after Jane Furlong died, a funeral was held for her in Auckland today.
She was just 17 when she disappeared in 1993 and her body was found two months ago buried at Sunset Beach.
Ms Furlong’s family say they're grateful to have her back but they're still desperate for her killer to be found.
They say today was about giving her a proper farewell.
“It will acknowledge, I hope, that Jane was a real person with family and friends rather than just a teenage prostitute,” says Judith Furlong, Jane’s mother.
She was a daughter, a mother, a sister and a partner, and more than a 100 family members and friends gathered to pay tribute.
“I'm sorry we never saw Jane grow up into adulthood, she was cheated of the chance to fulfill her life and I know she would have had much to offer,” says her aunt, Margaret Furlong.
“She was intelligent, a caring person, and a great deal of fun to be around,” says childhood friend Pip Faulkner.
Jane was last seen on Auckland's Karangahape Road in 1993 - she'd been due to give evidence in two criminal trials the following day.
“She certainly did not deserve this evil, and evil is what it is,” says Judith Furlong.
Her grave at an isolated beach was only revealed after years of erosion wore away the sand dunes.
“I believe the chance of finding Jane on the 19th of May this year, two months ago now, was a miracle. We never thought Jane would ever be found after 19 years missing,” says Judith Furlong.
Her loved ones only hope now is that her killer will also be found.
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