Hundreds of mourners were already inside, many carrying a single rose in memory of Saffie, a request from the family who invited anyone who had been touched by her to come to celebrate her short life.
Saffie Rose Roussos died after Salman Abedi detonated a home-made explosive in the foyer of the arena following a concert by USA singerAriana Grande.
In Tarleton, the village where Saffie and her brother went to school, people tied pink balloons to gate posts and lampposts as a mark of remembrance.
The eight-year-old had been a huge fan of Grande, and had received tickets to the concert as a Christmas present.
She was leaving, “happy and elated”, after the show with her sister and mother when Abedi detonated his home-made bomb packed with nuts.
Saffie Roussos was one of the victims of a May 22 attack in Manchester, England, that left 22 people dead.)
She emerged from the lead auto, refusing the offer of a wheelchair, instead pausing, limping, but determined to walk i00nto the cathedral for her daughter’s service, watched by dozens of well-wishers standing outside.
Saffie’s father, Andrew, 43, nodded to his son, Xander, 10, hugged by his stepsister Ashlee Bromwich, 23, and his wife, who replied with a weak smile. Mrs Roussos was gravely injured and was only discharged from hospital in order to attend the service on Wednesday.
Speaking publicly on July 4, on what would have been Saffie’s ninth birthday, Mr Roussos said: “We’ve lost everything”.
The funeral service took place at 13:45 BST; it is the last of the funerals for the victims.
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