Many have been left heartbroken after cherished Cockatoo local Olivia Patullo passed away on 23 June.
Full of love, laughter and life, Ms Patullo was remembered by her friends and family as a beautiful soul whose kindness knew no bounds.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday 10 July, 2pm, at David W Bull family funerals Pakenham.
Ms Patullo’s partner Kyle Buckland announced her passing in a Facebook post which saw hundreds of people mourn her tragic passing.
“She was the most loving, caring, nurturing, bubbly person you could ever meet. She always made you feel special,” Mr Buckland said.
“She just had a gift about her that no matter who you were, what walk of life you came from, she made you feel welcome and special. Even if she only talked to you for five minutes.”
She spent the first 14 years of her life in Seymour where she made many friends and memories, before moving down to the Hills to live with her father.
Having just turned 22, she was working at Dan Murphy’s while studying to become a primary school teacher.
Ms Patullo suffered a severe case of meningitis while on holiday in Thailand and passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Her mother, Tracy Byrne, said she had an abundance of kindness she shared with everyone.
“She just loved kids, you know, loved her arts and crafts. She never said a bad word about any kid, not even growing up, not a fight at school, she just loved people,” Tracy said.
“She was always smiling, always laughing, always talking.”
Her father, Scott Patullo, said he was lost for words.
“She was everything to me,” Mr Patullo said.
“She was a mad Geelong fan like me.”
Ms Patullo played football for Gembrook Cockatoo Football Netball Club in the 2017-18 season, playing a key role in the club’s u16’s premiership as a first years girls side.
The Brookers made a post on Facebook commemorating her life.
“Olivia was a proud Brooker who pulled on the green with heart and grit.”
“Olivia brought joy, connection, and spirit to our club – and for that, we are forever grateful.”
Ms Patullo was a natural with children, and she often said she’d always wanted to be like the affectionate character Ms Honey from the popular Roald Dahl novel Matilda.
“She had the personality for it as well,” Mr Buckland said.
Mr Buckland and Ms Patullo had been together for four years, which they spent travelling around the world.
“She just had an absolute will to live and experience life, we were always game to travel.
“She was a thrill seeker, she went skydiving. She learned how to scuba dive before she learned how to snorkel – that kind of puts it into perspective,” he said.
Scott Patullo said the pair were perfect for each other.
“I knew how happy they were, how happy he made her, how much he loved her.
“I didn’t have a shadow of a doubt that they’d spend the rest of their lives together,” Mr Patullo said.
Her love was abundant, her joy was infectious and her care was unconditional – she will live on in the memories of many.
