``It was a long day, everybody said it was a great ceremony and that's the way he deserved to go,'' friend Leigh Murtz said.

``It was one of those services that was like a king's farewell.''

Mr Malonzo's brave widow Aimee spoke for about five minutes in front of at least 300 people in the traditional Catholic service at the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre.

``She read out a poem that Michael actually wrote for her back in 2002,'' Mr Murtz said.

``She read it out and went on to talk about their relationship and how she'll miss him. She was very upset when she was talking.''

The 26-year-old honeymooners were involved in a tour bus crash in Thailand, less than a week after their wedding at Camden's Mater Dei Chapel on January 9.

Mr Malonzo was killed trying to shield the love of his life, who suffered a fractured pelvis.

A slideshow of the wedding was also played at the service, before moving to Leppington's Forest Lawn.