'Be Inspired': Gabby Petito's Dad At Long Island Memorial Service

HOLBROOK, NY — Joseph Petito asked mourners not to be sad as they gathered Sunday morning to honor his daughter Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito at Moloney's Funeral Home in Holbrook.

"If you knew Gabby, she was always a pretty happy girl," he told mourners at the private service that was livestreamed for viewers who could not attend.

"People would gravitate towards her and her nature," he said.

Always smiling, she treated people with kindness, sitting and talking with them for extended periods to the point it would take forever to drag her out of places, he recalled.

He credited the 22-year-old Blue Point native's fearless spirit with leading her to seek out adventures such as scuba diving with her uncle and himself, but also surfing the sand dunes in Colorado, and hiking the Appalachian Trail.

"She had some wild experiences, that I could only wish that I experienced," he said.

Using his daughter as an example, he urged people to experience life to the fullest as she did, and to “take that trip” that they always wanted to. He also urged them to take chances such as getting out of relationships that "might not be the best" for them.

The native Long Islander was found slain last week at a campground area of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, after a frantic eight-day search in multiple states. Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, returned home without her on Sept. 1 and there is currently a massive manhunt for him following an indictment alleging that he fraudulently withdrew over $1,000 from an unnamed bank account.

An urn rested on a table during the service surrounded by flowers and candles, and dozens of photographs from throughout her life decorated the inside of the funeral home while her favorite music played in the background.

There was also a painting of Petito with a halo over her head and angel wings as doves flew around her. It was re-created on prayer cards that were distributed to mourners.

Since Petito's death, many people have contacted her family saying they have done just that, her father said. One email was from a woman detailing how her 11-year-old daughter now has a newfound desire to travel the United States in a van just as his daughter did.

Joseph Petito said his daughter "genuinely loved people — it didn't matter.”

He asked for people to be inspired by her, noting "the entire planet knows this woman's name."

“She's inspired a lot of women and a lot of men to do what's best for them," he said, adding, “First, put yourself first, and do it now when you have the time.”

“I couldn't be more proud as a father,” he added.

Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, noted there was a large contingent of uniformed fire department members, whom he considers an extended family, at the funeral.

“That’s what we do; we do funerals, unfortunately,” he said, adding, "And, we're good at it.”

As a tribute to Petito, the Blue Point and Holbrook fire departments hung a giant blue banner with a red heart and the words, “Blue Point,” as well the latitude and longitude of her hometown, between two ladder trucks outside of Moloney's.

Of all the eulogies that Schmidt has made in his career in the fire department, he was not prepared for hers, he said.

He said that "22 years old Gabby" taught him that "you can always make money, but you cannot make up for lost time."

“Gabby loved life,” he said. “She is an example for all of us to live by — to enjoy every moment of this beautiful world as she did; love and give love to all, like she did.”

Schmidt said that the support from around the world has been “absolutely amazing.”

“Although there is a lot of evil and wrong in the world, there is more good,” he said. “And there is a lot of good people out there."

"They're all in this room right now — they’re across the world," he said making reference to the livestream.

Funeral director Connor Moloney thanked the two fathers for sharing about their daughter.

“It's safe to say that she's touched all of us, not just here in this chapel today, but everyone across the country, and in the world,” he added.

The street outside Moloney's was lined with teal ribbons in her honor, as well as banners saying, “Forever in our hearts,” and “She touched the world," while other tributes featured handmade angel wings.

Others wrote messages of support on their cars.

After Petito's eulogy, the service was opened to the public, and several hundred people lined up outside to pay their final respects just after noon.

Cars backed up onto Main Street as people tried to make their way over to the funeral home, while Suffolk County police advised motorists to avoid the area due to expected traffic congestion. Mourners parked down Main Street, as well as in Villa Lombardi's and Seneca Middle School's parking lots.

Fire police were directing traffic and paramedics were on hand to address any medical issues involving the large crowd.

Some mourners wore T-shirts with a likeness of Petito wearing angel wings, and a slogan that she now has her real “wings” as an angel in heaven.

Lisa DiMiceli and her wife, Ashleigh, said they were paying their respects because they met Petito, who used to serve them at Nole in Patchogue.

“She was always sweet,” Lisa said, adding, “and we were always taking extra napkins, and she would always laugh and, like, wink at us and tell us, ‘Go ahead, and take the napkins.’”

The couple noted that Petito’s story has also captured people’s attention from as far away as Ashleigh’s hometown in Dublin, Ireland.

“People are grieving for this young woman all over the world,” Lisa said. “It’s really heartbreaking, actually.”

“It’s worldwide,” Ashleigh said.

The couple was attracted to her "lightness," Lisa said.

“She was always a bright light,” she said.

Many mourners left the funeral home in tears.

Julie Berroa attended with her daughter, Crystal, all the way from Rockaway Beach to pay respects and show support for Petito’s family because it touched their hearts.

“God knows what happened," Crystal said. "It’s the scariest thing.”

Petito’s death will not go away any time soon for her family, Julie said, adding, “It’s going to stay with them forever.”

Thousands of mourners are estimated to have attended the service on Sunday.

Petito’s family is asking that members of the public donate to the Future Gabby Petito Foundation through the Johnny Mac Foundation.