A Tribute Ceremony for Philippine, a 19-Year-Old Student: An Emotional Crowd Gathers at Saint-Louis Cathedral in Versailles

On Friday, hundreds of family members, friends, fellow students and teachers gathered at Saint-Louis Cathedral in Versailles to pay their last respects to Philippine, a 19-year-old student who tragically disappeared. Philippine was found dead in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris on Saturday, having left her university’s CROUS the day before to go to her parents’ home in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, in the Yvelines département.

By 1pm, the 1,500-capacity church building had quickly filled up, forcing a silent crowd to gather outside in an atmosphere of deep contemplation. In all, more than 2,800 people attended the emotional ceremony.

A city in turmoil

Local residents, deeply affected by the tragedy, spoke of their sadness. ‘All the shopkeepers are talking about it,’ one local told BFMTV. Another neighbour, referring to the collective grief, added: ‘I think there will be a lot of people there because people feel affected.’

A Last Tribute in a place dear to Philippine

The choice of Saint-Louis Cathedral for this ceremony is not insignificant. It was here that Philippine celebrated an important moment in her spiritual life when she was confirmed. During the ceremony, a number of religious hymns that Philippine loved were played, and those close to her shared moving memories and testimonies.

Emmanuelle, her former French teacher, took the floor to express her emotion: ‘When I go back to class and see these young brunette girls with blue eyes, it reminds me that each life is precious and that, from one moment to the next, everything can change.’

Respectful and discreet mourning

Although Philippine’s death aroused strong emotions throughout the country, the family wished to maintain a certain degree of privacy. No video recording of the ceremony was authorised, despite the scale of the event. The funeral, which lasted almost two and a half hours, ended with a moment of quiet meditation.

After the ceremony, Philippine was laid to rest in the privacy of her family home in Montigny-le-Bretonneux. The local community, deeply saddened, joins her family in this ordeal, while the memory of this young girl will remain forever engraved in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.