The sister who lost three siblings in a sea incident off Brighton has paid a poignant tribute to them at their joint funeral service in north-west London. Lilian, the sole surviving sibling, wrote, "We were four, and now I am one," as the family gathered to say their final goodbyes.
Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, died on May 13. Their father, Joseph Jacobson, described them as "more than my daughters: you were my joy, my strength and the beautiful light that filled my life with love." He added, "No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives."
Jacobson recalled Jane's strength, Christina's kindness, and Rebecca's warmth and joyful spirit. "Though I can no longer see you, I carry you in my heart every day," he said.
The bodies of the three sisters were found fully clothed in the English Channel around 5:45 a.m. Rebecca was discovered washed ashore and declared dead by a paramedic, while Jane and Christina's bodies were recovered from the sea by the RNLI and brought to shore.
Sussex Police stated there is no evidence of criminality and they are not seeking anyone in connection with the deaths. However, an investigation is ongoing to determine how the sisters came to be in the water.
Relatives shared that the sisters' mother had died by drowning 16 years prior in Birmingham. Speaking at the funeral, cousin Natalie Walters-Daniel said, "Your lives will never be forgotten, and your memory will live on forever."
She continued, "Together they accomplished so much. They pursued their education, they built careers, they created lives that reflected the values their parents instilled in them." The sisters, all born in Luton, were living together in Greenford, north-west London, at the time of their deaths. Jane was a senior accountant, Christina a junior accountant, and Rebecca a HR administrator.
An inquest into their deaths was opened on May 29 at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted, but the cause of death for all three women is yet to be ascertained. Police are satisfied that there was no third-party involvement, and the coroner expressed hope that information from the inquest would quell social media speculation.