PORTAGE | Jada Justice was carried for the last time Friday in the arms of those who loved her.

The 2-year-old's uncles, Michael Valdez and Lamont Joyce, cried openly as they carried the little girl's tiny white casket to its final resting place in Heritage Cemetery in Portage. More than 200 people followed silently behind them.

"We love you, Jada," one man called as the casket was lowered into the grave site.

The toddler's body was found June 25 in rural LaPorte County after more than a week of a nationally publicized search prosecutors say was prompted by a ruse to cover up her slaying.

Jada is believed to have died June 13, three days before she was reported missing by her baby sitter and cousin, Engelica Castillo. Castillo and her boyfriend, Tim Tkachik, each were charged last week with murder, neglect of a dependent, battery and false informing for Jada's death, Lake Criminal Court records state

Rita Rincon -- who is Castillo's mother and the aunt of Jada's mother, Melissa Swiontek -- stood in the back of the crowd during the burial and quietly wiped away tears.

Memories of Jada surrounded mourners during the visitation and funeral services.

The toddler's smiling face was plastered on boards on either side of her flower-covered casket. A sketch of Jada showed her clasped in the arms of an angel. In another picture, the little girl wore her own pair of wings and a halo.

"She is the portrait of what love is," Pastor Craig Harper said. "In her two and a half years on Earth, she taught us the greatest lesson in life -- the word love."

Harper recalled how Jada's family, friends and even those who had never met her came together to help bring her home.

"Part of you fell in love with her whether you knew her or not," Harper said.

April Soria, a family friend, brought tearful laughter to the crowd as she remembered Jada's penchant for eating all the food, playing dress up and singing the "$5 foot long" song from the Subway fast food commercial.

Jada's 10-year-old sister, Celeste Albanice, gave a last goodbye.

"You're in God's hands now," she said. "I had to watch over you. Now, you have to watch over us. ... We will see you when our lives are over."