More than 400 people gathered in a field in Roeser on Saturday to say a final farewell to four members of the Hoare-Vermeulen family who perished in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane in eastern Ukraine on July 17.

During the two-hour outdoor memorial to Estella, Andrew, Friso and Jasper, those gathered heard heart-warming stories about the exceptional British-Dutch family whose kindness and energy touched many people.

Among the many tributes paid during the ceremony, neighbours of the late family in rue des Fleurs in Roeser painted a particularly striking picture of the family, whose red house was described as a “light house”, which “lit up the street”.

Estella Vermeulen, a Dutch national who also spoke Luxembourgish, was described as the indefatigable light, burning bright as she drove her children to all kinds of activities and ensure her family was integrated into the community.

Andrew Hoare, a British national, was remembered for speaking his own language, a mix of Luxembourgish, French, English and “lots of body gestures”.

Jasper Hoare, 14, was the lighthouse engineer, who would clear the snow from neighbours' drives in the winter and then build himself an igloo. And, finally, Friso Hoare, 12, who liked to climb the lamp post outside the family home, a “smiling face full of life.”

“Now the street is quiet. The light has gone out. The brothers no longer play in the garden,” a neighbour said, adding: “Andrew no longer tells his jokes on the bus in the morning. Estella is no longer there tospend a happy moment with.”

European School tributes

The two boys were students at the European School in Kirchberg, classmates from which attended the ceremony and also paid tribute. One fellow student, Janina Garbo, wrote and dedicated a song to Jasper called The Guardian Angel. Jasper's friends wrote messages which they presented to the family and his hockey club presented two hockey sticks in memory.

Friso's friends shed light on this playful schoolboy who had a terrific sense of fun. One described how he gifted him a basketball in a giant, homemade shoe for his birthday. Two others shared the secret handshake which they used with Friso. Meanwhile, Friso's art teacher, Kauser Arif, also a long-term friend of Andrew's, talked and showed Friso's “marvelous” talent for art.

Tony Hegarty of Luxembourg running group the Hash House Harriers remembered first introducing Andrew and Estella.

He said: “I will remember him (Andrew) as a real gentleman and very happy to help people. I can only imagine him now at the gates of heaven helping people as they arrive,” he said.

Estella, meanwhile, was remembered as an “inspiration”, “kind, funny and honest, she was the hardest working person I've ever known,” one friend said, adding: “She dearly so wanted her boys to be exposed to anything and everything that would interest them so they would have the best start in life she could give them.”

The memorial ended with the family releasing 100 white balloons into the air.

This was the second memorial of its kind to be organised for the Hoare family. Another event was held in the west of England in August.

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