Late figure skater John Coughlin's sister and father battled through his funeral Tuesday, just 11 days after the champion died by suicide aged 33
The relatives were seen leaving Christ the King Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri and his father Michael Coughlin couldn't fight back tears as they followed his casket before it was loaded into a vehicle
As the parent broke down and cried at the gathering of loved ones, his sibling Angela Laune comforted those around her and at one point was seen rubbing the back of an attendee
But she later admitted on social media that January 29 will always be difficult for her as it marks the day they said goodbye to the sportsman who was suspended from competing just one day before he took his own life
'Burying you today will forever be one of the toughest and saddest days of my entire life,' she posted alongside a photo of her brother smiling on Tuesday night
'Honoring your memory together with family and friends gave Dad and I some peace.We know you are with Mom now
'The goodness and joy you brought to everyone you knew echoes through the stories and memories shared by so many
The hole in my heart can never be filled, but I will look for you in the small and beautiful ways the world shows us flashes of heaven
Watch over me and Dad and we will see you some day at the big table in the sky.' Reverend Greg Lockwood was seen outside the building as grieving guests left
Several Holy Bible passages were read during the service where Coughlin's godfather read Prayers of the Faithful, including some resonating lines between the order of events, including one that read: 'Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice
' Another read: 'May the angels lead thee into paradise; may the Martyrs receive thee at thy coming…' The wake for the two-time US national pairs champion figure skater was held on Monday with a rosary at 5
30pm and a visitation service from 5.45pm to 8pm.The funeral mass was held on Tuesday at 1
30pm with the burial at Mt.Saint Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City, where he was laid to rest
His family asked for contributions can be made in his name to Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation or the Parkinson's Foundation in lieu of flowers
He had been placed under a restriction by the governing body that deals with allegations of sexual misconduct in Olympic sports
But his family say unsubstantiated rumors regarding his suspension from skating drove him to suicide
The restriction went largely unnoticed until popular YouTube channel The Skating Lesson shared a screenshot of the vague notice to Facebook on January 4
Speculation exploded online with commentators saying: 'What a surprise, another pervert coach' and compared him to disgraced serial abuser gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar - despite the fact that there didn't appear to be any evidence of Coughlin's wrongdoing aside from the words: 'Allegation of misconduct'
The situation escalated when Coughlin received an interim suspension from SafeSport, presumably linked to the same allegation as the restriction
He was barred from any activities sanctioned by the skating body or the US Olympic Committee
According to those close to Coughlin, the skater felt that he had 'lost everything'
One friend wrote on Facebook: 'Words can be just as powerful as a bullet.To John, they were just that — bullets straight to his heart
' Before his death Coughlin issued a statement about the initial restriction on January 7, three days after it was shared by TSL
'While I wish I could speak freely about the unfounded allegations levied against me, the SafeSport rules prevent me from doing so since the case remains pending,' he told USA Today
'I note only that the SafeSport notice of allegation itself stated that an allegation in no way constitutes a finding by SafeSport or that there is any merit to the allegation
' Over the past couple weeks, TSL has come under fire for posting a photo of the SafeSport restriction, despite the fact that it was already accessible to the public, because it opened the door for internet trolls to tear Coughlin down
Dalilah Sappenfield, Couglin's former coach, who was by his side when he claimed two national titles in 2011 and 2012, spoke out against the those accusing him online
The veteran Olympic coach told DailyMail.com: 'I'm an sadden with grief that a young man who was the kindest, caring, and extremely admired person hit such a low point because of the loss of all he knows
'John lost his reputation, his name, his work, his dignity and what he loved most, skating
The irresponsibility of today's social media who became judge and jury is what made this beautiful young man to take his life
'John was a very caring and selfless person.Always putting others ahead of himself
The love and support he is receiving from around the world is a testament to his positive affect of people
He was an amazing ambassador for our sport.'I've known John for over 20 years (as his coach and second family) and he didn't have a mean bone in his body
He was a beautiful soul who saw the good in everyone.He made you smile with his infectious laugh
John was a man of great integrity and just such a class act.'Everyone knows John was one of the good guys
Being shunned for allegations not proven was something I know was hard for him to live with, but the mere rumor of assault is what sent him over the edge
'My hope is that through John's tragic death, we can build awareness to bring change to the process of investigation so that both parties have their Constitution Rights to due process
' In an impassioned Facebook post, Sappenfield wrote: 'We spoke everyday just numb and shocked about how things were being misconstrued on social media
'It was so very sad and tragic for me to see his life turned upside down in a matter of weeks, to the point where he felt alone, lost, and desperate that he no longer had it in him to fight
' She scolded unspecified social media users for posting unfounded rumors online, writing: 'SHAME ON YOU for your insensitive and ignorant postings without knowing all the facts!' In another equally emotional post, a friend of Coughlin's specifically calls out TSL for being complicit in the spread of those rumors
Kandis Kovalsky wrote: 'Reading the vicious attacks lobbed against him on The Skating Lesson [comments] was beyond upsetting
People who never met John and knew none of the FACTS behind this investigation were saying some of the most vile and hateful things
TSL did nothing to monitor this content.' Kolvalsky also claimed that she was blocked by TSL after she posted comments defending her friend
In a heartfelt statement to DailyMail.com, Kovalsky said: 'I first met John about 15 years ago at University of Delaware where we trained together under Jeff DiGregorio
John and I quickly became friends; it was hard not to be friends with John.In what can be a frustrating and lonely world, John's smile and laughter were welcome
'John was a kind and gentle soul with the heart and spirit of a champion.John was a champion, a two-time US National Champion
He loved this country and represented it well in his decades in figure skating.The world of figure skating loved him back
'One of the many things that made John so special was he was not just a champion in his own right, but a champion of others – his friends and students
' To prove her point, Kovalsky provided DailyMail.com with a photo of John 'standing up with fists clenched with delight as he watches a friend perform', adding that it was 'no different than his response if his team, the Chiefs, had just run an 80-yard return touchdown
' Kovalsky continued: 'The unfortunate events of the last month do not change our memories of John
It is no coincidence hundreds of skaters have donated to the GoFundMe campaign created by Dalilah Sappenfield
'John was beloved in the skating world and always will be.Although John left this world in a cloud of uncertainty, this love for him remains certain
A quote on John's Facebook page sums him and his witty sense of humor up well: '[y]ou strap knives to your feet, velvet to your ass, fling yourself into the air, and hope to land on one foot, smiling
' 'I will always remember his smile.' Sappenfield, Kovalsky and countless Facebook users said that Coughlin wasn't afforded the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty
Kovalsky wrote: 'Accusations should be taken seriously but so should innocence.Not everyone accused is a Larry Nassar
'Unfortunately, the process Safe Sport follows by making an accusation public but with no details so as to provide some important distinguishing factors about what's actually being investigated immediately led to so much misinformation being spread around, followed by a conviction in the court of public opinion
'For John, that was too much.He wanted to be heard but couldn't be.He wasn't even allowed to be
' She added: 'I am not and never was upset at the ability of a complainant to file a report
I think the concept of Safe Sport is a good one and a much needed one.'What happened in the world of gymnastics was an atrocity and a tragedy
I am supportive of investigations and following the evidence where it leads.If, here, that led to an unfavorable result for John, then I could live with that
'What is so deeply troubling and now difficult to swallow is the fundamental unfairness of this process to accused like John in its nascent stages
A public post with no details, an indefinite timeline and essentially, a gag order
I strongly suggest that Safe Sport reconsider its process.' A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Couglin's sister Angela and father Mike cover his funeral and burial costs
It has raised more than $22,000 as of Sunday morning.The page description reads: 'On January 18, 2019 our beloved friend, mentor, student, and role model was taken from us way too soon
'John Coughlin was an ambassador to figure skating and was loved by so many around the world
John lost everything.his name, reputation, his ability to earn a living and what he loved most, skating
'Words on social media can be just as powerful as a bullet.Unfortunately, the accusations that were made public before no distinguishing factors about what's actually being investigated led to so much misinformation being spread around
'For John this was too much.He wanted to be heard but couldn't be and wasn't allowed to be
It's with such heavy heart that we will be saying goodbye to this amazingly kind soul
' Kansas City Police said that officers there were dispatched at 4.54pm on Friday to the 10900 block of Washington Street for a suicide
The address is listed as Coughlin's former residence and the house where his father lives, according to public records
'My wonderful, strong, amazingly compassionate brother John Coughlin took his own life earlier today,' Coughlin's sister said in a statement on Friday
USFS said it was 'stunned' by the news and extended 'heartfelt and deepest sympathies' to the family
The organization said it would have no further comment 'until a later time.' The International Skating Union also said it was 'shocked' and offered 'kindest thoughts' in this 'time of sorrow
'Coughlin was chair of the ISU athletes commission and a member of a technical committee
' Coughlin won national pairs championships with two partners.He teamed with Caitlin Yankowskas in 2011 and with Caydee Denney the next year
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