Cradling their lovechild in her arms, a grieving Paula Yates said farewell to her lover Michael Hutchence in a service that drew together the many strands of this rock star's troubled life.
All of Sydney stopped as the people who knew Michael and those who just knew his music came to pay their respects to a much loved musician. The building workers nearby stopped their jack hammers as the service at the beautiful old sandstone St Andrew's cathedral got underway. The humidity and blustery wind that preceded the rolling thunder added to the poignancy of it all.
There was a bevy of blondes in black, and tributes that told a life Michael packed in 37 years.
There was even a dramatic clap of thunder as the coffin, covered with a sea of deep blue irises as well as a single tiger lily, was placed in the hearse waiting to take Michael on his final journey.
While more than 800 people crammed into St Andrew's cathedral last Thursday, and hundreds more stood outside, it was the grieving Yates and baby Heavenly Hiranni Tiger Lily who became the focus of public sympathy.
Paula arrived in one of a fleet of black limousines. She was wearing sunglasses and a low cut black dress, and she was carrying 16 month old Tiger Lily on her right hip. As she walked through the church, she nodded at the faces she recognised among mourners before taking her place in the front pew.
Sitting on the other side of the aisle were Michael's family, his mother Patricia Glassop and her husband Ross, his dad Kell and step mother Susan, his sister Tina Schorr and his brother Rhett.
Other mourner's included the royalty of Australian rock 'n' roll - the INXS band members, Nick Cave, Peter Garrett, Kate Ceberano, Wendy Matthews, Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton and Molly Meldrum. Rock journalist Richard Wilkins gave the eulogy.
International celebrities included Tom Jones, Jason Donovan and Michael's former lovers Kylie Minogue and Helena Christensen. Good friend actress Kym Wilson - who was probably the last to see Michael alive - was also there to say farewell.
U2's Bono, and his wife Ali - who couldn't attend the service - sent a two metre floral claddagh, an Irish symbol for love, friendship and loyalty.
The service began with the INXS song By My Side, the words seeming eerily apt as it rang through the church. "In the dark of night, those small hours, uncertain and anxious, I need to call you."
Initially, Paula seemed composed, but when Tiger Lily's godfather Nick Cave sang his song Into My Arms, she broke into sobs, her slight body shaking. There were several moving tributes, one from INXS band member and old school friend Andrew Farriss, who spoke of their good and bad times.
He also had a warning for Michael's impressionable fans: "We ask the band's fans and those who are touched by his death, not to react in any ways to hurt themselves.
"Michael would not have wanted that."
Michael's brother Rhett - who was wearing a striking striped suit given to him by his late brother - told of their childhood and said he always thought Michael was 'destined to lead an extraordinary life.'
He added: 'I have an early lyric book of Michael's in which he first started writing ... there is a list of 10 things he wanted to achieve in this life. The first one was to conquer the world.
'I can't remember what the other nine were, but I am sure he achieved them too.'