Grieving family says Rekiah sacrificed herself for others Rekiah O'Donnell's funeral service at Aberfeldie Baptist Church. A YOUNG Melbourne woman gunned down in the prime of her life sacrificed herself to try and improve the lives of others, her grieving family say. Hundreds of grieving family and friends of slain woman Rekiah O'Donnell today packed a suburban church to pay tribute to the bubbly girl with a heart of gold. The 22-year-old was shot and killed in a home in Melbourne's west last week. Heartbroken parents Kerryn and Craig, and siblings Jesse and Indiana, led a string of tributes during an almost two-hour service to their "beautiful, funny and happy," daughter and sister. They remembered the little girl who excelled at Niddrie Primary School then rebelled as a high school student. When she made up her mind about something, it was hard change it, a trait that often frustrated teachers, mum Kerryn Robertson said. "She had a wonderful personality all of her own," she said. Her name was unique and she certainly fit that name. Ms Robertson said her hardworking and strong daughter lit up a room and was a source of inspiration and support to all who knew her. Friends and family of Rekiah O'Donnell at her funeral service at Aberfeldie Baptist Church. Ms Robertson said her daughter was someone who lived to help others, and said in the end it cost her her life. She hooked up with someone she thought she could help. Unfortunately that's the reason we're here today," she said. "Although we did everything in our power to keep Kiah away from her tormentor she had a mind of her own and in the end she sacrificed her life to try and save him," she said. About 500 mourners, who spilt across two rooms at the Aberfeldie Baptist Church, laughed and cried as siblings Jesse and Indiana remembered their older sister. She was equally happy, playfully beating them up, bossing them around and teasing them, as she was giving them advice and protecting them, they said. "Kiah always cared and loved her friends and family more than anything," Jesse said. She thought she could redeem someone, help them out, right until the very end. She lost her life to try and save someone else's. That is the perfect testimony to her life," he said. Police have charged Ms ODonnell's boyfriend, Nelson Lai, 34, with her murder.