A poignant message about hope was shared at Elle Edwards' funeral on behalf of her grandad.
Family, friends and mourners arrived at St Nicholas Church in Wallasey on Wednesday to remember the life of 26-year-old Elle. The popular beautician was shot dead when a gunman opened fire at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve.
Elle's funeral at St Nicholas Church will be followed by a private service at Landican Cemetery and Crematorium. In his homily during the funeral service, Reverend Jeff Staples said he had two "very important needs" to share - the need for peace and the need for hope.
READ MORE: Updates as funeral of tragic Elle Edwards set to take place
The need for hope came from a conversation the vicar had with Elle's dad Tim Edwards. He said: "Tim mentioned in an interview how he and Elle used to find great joy walking in the Lakes, so I hope Tim doesn't mind me mentioning that when we met the other day here in St Nicholas, the two of us spoke about finding peace.
"Tim said that he found peace when walking up to the top of a high hill and stopping to gaze out. He experienced stillness and calm, I think that is how many people seek peace, isn't it? To get out of the local hub-bub of life and just be in a place of calmness, of stillness, to be in the moment.
Reverend Jeff continued: "Being at peace is important right now. It's always important, but it's particularly important right now. It's important because many of you, if not all, will be going through a whole range of emotions: sadness and grief, obviously, maybe anger, fear, anxiety, shock or bewilderment.
"I could go on but you know what I mean. We are emotionally in a kind of fuzz where nothing feels solid, nothing feels stable, we don't know whether to laugh or cry, to shout or be silent, so it's important that we find stillness, calm, peace."
Reverend Jeff also shared a message about hope from Elle's grandad. He said: "May I also share something Elle's grandad George said the other day, and again I hope he doesn't mind. George said that we needed to leave this place today with hope in our hearts.
"How true is that? If we lose hope, then the darkness of evil has gained a victory.
"All of us have been touched by darkness in these past weeks at one level or another - is it just as Tim said - what happened on Christmas Eve affected so many people, and it continues to do so. We were all touched by the darkness of evil."
READ NEXT
Brookside is returning to TV screens for the first time in 20 years
'I knew something 'wasn't right' when hospital called after routine test'
Police close road after school bus and van crash
Funeral for 'beautiful' Elle Edwards to be held today
Lost Liverpool pub made famous in iconic 1980s television show
