A mother and daughter killed in a devastating triple-fatal car crash have been farewelled by their tight-knit community amid emotional scenes – with the tragic mum’s favourite pair of rollerskates placed on top of her casket.
Susan Zimmer, 70 and her daughter Steffanie, 35, died after their silver Mercedes was smashed off the road in Bonogin in Queensland‘s Gold Coast hinterland on December 30.
Susan’s husband, retired skin cancer specialist Chris Fawcett, 79, was also killed in the crash.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos footballer Payne Haas, was allegedly fleeing police when her car struck the Zimmer clan’s vehicle on Friday, December 30. She has been charged with three counts of manslaughter.
A mother and daughter killed in a devastating triple-fatal car crash have been farewelled by their tight-knit community amid emotional scenes
Susan Zimmer, 70 and her daughter Steffanie, 35, died after their silver Mercedes was smashed off the road in Bonogin in Queensland ‘s Gold Coast hinterland on December 30
Daughter Claudine Snow arrived at the service at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds on Friday clutching her mother’s signature rollerskates
Claudine Snow paid tearful tributes to her mother and sister
Mourners gathered at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds in the Gold Coast hinterland for the memorial service
Steffanie’s coffin was adorned with a picture of her running in a race, along with a pair of her running shoes, a tin of her beloved Milo and a litre of chocolate milk
Daughter Claudine Snow arrived at the service at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds on Friday holding her mother’s signature rollerskates – in tribute to the sport she loved.
The pair’s white coffins were adorned in flowers at the front of the Bill Deacon pavilion, with the rollerskates placed atop Mrs Zimmer’s casket.
Steffanie’s coffin was adorned with a picture of her running in a race, along with a tin of her beloved Milo and a litre of chocolate milk.
Several police officers who attended the scene of the crash joined family and friends.
‘The Scientist’ by Coldplay and ‘Convenience’ by Power Culture played at the start of the service, with Ms Snow lighting candles for her mother and sister.
Claudine Snow was overcome with emotion during her moving eulogy
Mourners rallied to support Claudine Snow during the service
‘The Scientist’ by Coldplay and ‘Convenience’ by Power Culture played at the start of the service, with Ms Snow lighting candles for her mother and sister
A pair of rollerskates adorned the coffin of mother Susan Zimmer, 70, as a poignant reminder of the sport she loved
Ms Snow said she was honoured the community had joined her to farewell her mother and sister.
She said growing up with Susan and Steffanie was like ‘the three amigos’.
‘Susan endures many obstacles, but possessed immense talent and an even fiercer resolve,’ Ms Snow said.
She paid tribute to her mother’s love of roller skating, revealing she performed the splits in front of her friends as a way to ‘show off’.
Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, (together above) were killed after Taufua allegedly collided with their silver Mercedes
Retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, (above) was killed during the car crash in Bonogin on Friday
At night, she studied to become an accountant so Ms Snow could attend university.
‘She was a driven, resourceful woman,’ she said. ‘She gave me so many lifelong lessons.
‘If you’re listening mum, I don’t know what to do without you. You were my best friend and I find myself picking up the phone to call you for advice… for anything; just for one more hug,’ Ms Snow said.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos footballer Payne Haas, was allegedly fleeing police when her car struck the Zimmer clan’s vehicle on Friday, December 30. She has been charged with three counts of manslaughter
Fond memories of her mother taking her daughters to McDonalds were recounted, along with Susan baking in the kitchen and adoring her grandchildren.
Steffanie Zimmer leaves behind her husband Graham and their children Audrey, Yvonne and Grayson.
Paying tribute to her sister, Ms Snow revealed Steffanie was brought home as a ‘surprise fifth birthday present’.
Ms Snow revealed Steffanie had a crush on her husband, jokingly saying she was going to marry him instead of Ms Snow.
‘Something she would always say is “I’m still here.” But you’re not still here, and it hurts,’ Ms Snow said through tears.
‘I’ll never stop loving you. You and mum will be together forever.
‘I wish I could wake up from this nightmare and you’ll both come back to me.’
A memorial booklet distributed to mourners shows a photo of the pair with the words: ‘Together Forever’.
The cortege proceeded to Mudgeeraba Cemetery following the service, where Susan and Steffanie were laid to rest.
The cortege proceeded to Mudgeeraba Cemetery following the service, where Susan and Steffanie were laid to rest.
Family, friends and several police officers who attended the scene of the crash also joined mourners
Daughter Claudine Snow (pictured right) had earlier revealed the heartbreaking moment she found out she’d lost her family in a phone call from police who told her: ‘They’re all gone’
Ms Snow earlier spoke of her disbelief at the horrifying tragedy when she visited a roadside memorial at the scene of the crash earlier this month.
‘The last thing (mum) said to me in a voicemail was she was worried about driving at this time of the year,’ she revealed.
‘I wish she had have just listened to her gut feeling and didn’t go out.’
Ms Snow said she missed a call from a mobile number on the day of the crash – later discovering to her horror it was from Queensland Police.
Ms Snow said she missed a call from a mobile number on the day of the crash – later discovering to her horror it was from Queensland Police
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the horrific crash in the Gold Coast hinterland
‘I just dropped to my knees,’ she recalled. ‘I knew it was about mum. (The person on the phone) said, ‘They’re all gone’.
‘My mother, my stepdad, my only sibling have been taken from me.
‘This shouldn’t have happened.
‘I want people to know, when you get behind the wheel, you have people’s lives in your hands.
‘It’s destroyed my life. I don’t know if I can ever be happy again.’
