Hundreds turn out to mourn Genevieve Cormier

A funeral for Genevieve Cormier, 19, is being held in Saint John this afternoon.

Hundreds of mourners attended the servicefor the Saint John High School student whose disappearance and subsequent death drew national attention.

Cormier's aunt, Paula Noel, described her as being friendly, outgoing and loving, even from a young age.

"As she grew, that spirit just continued to develop," she told CBC News.

"Theresso many of us that loved her, and she had so much love to give, and we certainly felt it every day," said Noel.

"When her friends talk about her, they talk about how she took care of them, how she gave them advice, how she personallyalways tried to look on the positive side of things and see the good, even in a bad situation and that she really helped her friends to do that as well," she said.

She never was afraid to tell people how she felt and she would just write little notes and letters to people and tell them how much she loved them I want to be more like that.- Paula Noel, Genevieve Cormier's aunt

"She never was afraid to tell people how she felt and she would just write little notes and letters to people and tell them how much she loved them and what she loved about them," said Noel.

"I want to be more like that. I want to take that from her spirit," she said.

"So many of us dont do that and you just need to tell the people that you love how you feel when you have the time to do it."

Cormier went missingon Sept. 29. Her bodywas discovered on a beach on Nov. 2.

Autopsy results have not yet been released.

Cormier's aunt said the five weeks she was missing were "indescribable."

"It was so difficult, I can't even, there arent even wordsto describe what it feels likethinking what may have transpired but then trying to hold onto hope that perhaps there would be a way that she could come home," said Noel.

"And I know that is the way this whole city felt. The outpouring of support was just incredible," she said, thanking the hundreds of volunteers who searched tirelessly for Cormierand those who sent words of support and prayers.

"It really did sustain us," said Noel.

The service at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 360 Dufferin Row started at noon.

Interment will take place in St. Patrick's Cemetery.