Carol and Michael Clancy's children huddled close together at a candlelight vigil in Wollongong on Monday night, crying as they listened to the tributes of a grieving community.
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More than 100 mourners stood with them in Civic Plaza, braving the cold night, to remember the much-loved Kanahooka teachers and 296 others who were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine last Friday.
Their children from Carol's first marriage, Jane and Andrew Malcolm, and daughter-in-law Yuliya stood to one side of the small crowd flanked by friends and family.
Acknowledging swathes of visits, phone calls, flowers and messages in a statement read by Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, they were overwhelmed by the community's support.
"We take some comfort in knowing that both Carol and Michael had such a profound impact on the community," they said.
"For us personally, they were our much loved parents who would give us everything they could.
"We will hold dear the happy memories that we shared with them and it fills us with great sadness to contemplate the moments they will miss."
Young school students were among those holding flickering candles in memory of two much-loved teachers, while their fellow teachers honoured respected colleagues and friends.
Catholic, Buddhist, Anglican and Muslim prayers were read, urging peace and compassion as the investigation into the crash continues to unfold, while Throsby MP Stephen Jones and Cr Bradbery spoke of how close to home the international tragedy had come.
