Farewell to Ben and Stephanie
The moving service recounted fond memories of the two youngsters who died after a fire in their family home in Ellacombe Church Road, only a few yards away from the church.
The road outside the church was closed by police for the service attended by around 600 people.
There was standing room only as tributes were paid to Stephanie, 15, and Ben, eight.
The service was a celebration of their lives with music, including the theme from Thomas the Tank Engine for Ben, and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's Hallelujah for Stephanie.
A 14ft Christmas tree stood in the church and will remain there through the festive season with special decorations made for Ben by friends at his school, Combe Pafford in Watcombe.
Some 150 pupils from Stephanie's school, Westlands, walked to the church to pay their respects.
Pupils remaining at the school held a two-minute silence, with a poem read by sixth former Lydia Hulme.
In the church foyer were large memory boards created for Ben and Stephanie by their friends and family.
They were packed with photos of the two and messages for them and their family, including Mike and Gill Wojak and their son, Ricky, who lost everything in the fire a month ago.
A slide presentation created by Combe Pafford School included photos of Ben on swings and slides, on trips out of school, and showing his love of animals, particularly chipmunks and the donkeys at the donkey sanctuary and Pennywell Farm.
Though he had only been at the school just over a year, head Mike Lock said he had made a real impression and would be sadly missed.
Mike Stewart, Westlands head teacher, speaking to the congregation about Stephanie, said: "She had a happy smile, sometimes a cheeky one too, and she had the ability to make people smile back at her.
"She touched the lives of many people.
"She cared very deeply for Ben and I am sure he had a significant influence on her and would have determined her future career path."
He said she was also a typical teenager, spending long sessions on her beloved mobile phone.
He added: "Steph has had a significant impact in the school and the community in ensuring not only that we will remember her, but also that we will always install, and check, smoke alarms. In this way Steph has, and will always have, contributed to the lives of many people."
Classmates Katie Toope and Amber Phillips, both 15, read a piece of prose based on a poem called Smile.
The Rev Paul Ireton read a tribute from Stephanie's boyfriend of 12 months Gary Billington, 16, which said his 'best friend' was a special person who had a 'beautiful heart'.
Before the service Gary, said: "It was important for me to be here today. Steph had a great sense of humour, a great little laugh too. She was a beautiful girl."
Of Ben he said: "We always called him 'little man' or 'wee man'."
At the service the Rev Ireton spoke about Ben and Stephanie's strong love for each other.
He said: "They brought light and brightness into many people's lives."
Firefighters from Torquay's Blue Watch and retained firemen who fought the blaze attended.
Tony Heywood, group manager for risk reduction, said: "We feel honoured to have been invited to attend this funeral. It's important for us to pay our respect and show our empathy with the community and the families of Steph and Ben."
Det Sgt Martin Sutcliffe, one of the officers leading the fire investigation, said: "It's a very sad day but it's right that it should be a celebration of their lives."
Mike Griffith, of the Salvation Army and the chairman of governors at Combe Pafford, said: "The community has been brilliant."
Nathan Harvey, Steph and Ben's cousin and a pall bearer, said: "We all feel the loss at the moment."
Eddy Slaughter, who works with Mike Wojak for Thames Water Board, said: "Eighteen work colleagues of Mike have come from all over the country to support him and his family."
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