Mourners enter Christ Church in Greenwich, Conn., where a memorial service for Lauren Bessette was held Saturday. (Jeff Chistensen — Reuters)

``I can still see Lauren, tall and graceful with those adorably quirky hand gestures,'' her uncle Dr. Jack Messina told about 400 guests who attended a private candlelight service for the 34-year-old investment banker and her sister.

``I see her tossing that long shiny hair and hear her laughter. I sense her vitality and her strength and her love. We shall miss her.''

The hour and a half long service, attended by many Kennedys, was a final, heartfelt farewell to the two sisters who perished with John F. Kennedy Jr. in a plane crash in the Atlantic.

Significantly, the candlelight service was held in the name of Lauren -- the ``other Bessette'' -- although prayers were also offered for Carolyn, 33 and John, 38.

Brilliant and beautiful, Lauren earned her business degree from the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She rose rapidly in the world of international finance and worked for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in New York for eight years. She specialized in Asian investments and was based in Hong Kong until about a year ago.

``She was a good friend, a very dear friend,'' said Krista Trattnig, who studied Chinese with Lauren in Hong Kong and flew in from Austria for the service. What do you think when your friend dies?''

She would probably never have been buried at sea -- in a stately ceremony aboard a Navy destroyer with a folded American flag -- except for the fact that her glamorous 33-year-old sister had married a Kennedy.

In tribute, and recognition, the Kennedy clan flocked to the service, described as ``tearful and joyful'' by the Rev. Rev. Hugh Tudor-Foley, one of three celebrants. Mourners included JFK Jr.'s sister Caroline Kennedy, uncle Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, aunts Ethel Kennedy and Jean Kennedy Smith, cousins Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Maryland's lieutenant governor, Douglas Kennedy, Maxwell Kennedy, Maria Shriver, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo as well as Rory Kennedy and her fiance, Mark Bailey, whose wedding was postponed by the tragedy.

Ann Freeman, the Bessette sisters' mother, and Dr. Richard Freeman, their stepfather arrived early, along with Lisa Ann. The parents attended a separate service for Kennedy and his wife in New York on Friday.

The services included brief tributes from friends and hymns that reflected Lauren's love of opera.

``Their departure has left an enormous void in all our lives and has touched the lives of millions,'' Messina said.

Outside Christ Church, people gathered to show support for the family, leaving bouquets and hand-written notes.

David Dall, a former high school classmate of Lauren's, placed flowers on a makeshift memorial. Although he hadn't seen her since they graduated from Greenwich High School in 1982, he felt compelled to pay his respects. ``We're here to show the family our hearts are with them,'' he said.

``They were beautiful people,'' said Idoline Kearns of Larchmont, NY, who arrived mid-afternoon with her husband, Richard. ``We feel we have an obligation to sit here, three or four hours. We're here for both families.''

Others reflected on the unspeakable sorrow of parents forced to bury two children at once.

``Devastating,'' said Chuck Morrell, the chief sexton of Christ Church, as he helped with preparations at the 90-year-old Gothic building earlier in the day. ``Two daughters who were living life to the full. No parent should have to bear such a loss,'' Morrell said.

Beneath the arched red wooden doors, a hand-scribbled card lay beside a bouquet of carnations.

``John, Carolyn and Lauren,'' the note read. ``Our thoughts and prayers are with you.''

Next to it, a bunch of wildflowers lay over a child's drawing of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Earlier in the week, in a brief, poignant statement, the family said it had drawn comfort from the fact that Carolyn and John ``will comfort Lauren for eternity.''

The statement added, ``Nothing in life is preparation for the loss of a child.''