Maria Strydom and Robert Gropel during their ill-fated Everest climb. Picture: Sunday Night/Channel 7.

Over 350 family and friends gathered to say goodbye to Maria Strydom at the Religious Centre at Monash University, where she was employed as a finance lecturer.

The 34-year-old fell ill from altitude sickness while descending near the summit last month with her husband Rob Gropel.

TRAGIC AMBITION: Ms Strydom’s final hours

FINAL GOAL: Ms Strydom’s body retrieved from the mountain

SPECIAL FEATURE: Welcome to the death zone

Dr Maria Strydom her husband Robert Gropel were keen climbers.Source:News Corp Australia

Friends helped raise the money to bring Ms Strydom’s body home.Source:Supplied

After her death, her family vowed her body would not be abandoned on the mountain like 200 other tragic climbers, while friends rallied together to raise the funds needed to fly her home.

Maria’s sister, Aletta Newman, told the Herald Sun the family were “very grateful” for everyone who attended the service last week.

“It was a beautiful service,” she said, “It was what she deserved.”

Mrs Newman spoke at the service along with Mr Gropel who remembered his late wife as a passionate advocate for animals, the environment and for women.

“He was so heartfelt, he is devastated,” she said.

“He spoke so well and you just try to keep it together.”

Pictures of Maria’s mountaineering achievements were shown in a presentation during the service, her sister added.

“It was a very personal goodbye, remembering everything she achieved.

“She was my inspiration and I’ve decided to do more charity work like she did — I just want to do her proud.”

Mr Gropel has returned to work this week as a vet in Ivanhoe.

“He has started back part-time to start with,” Mrs Newman said, “He’s very brave.”

When Mr Gropel was interviewed shortly after the accident he described his wife as his “idol.”

“She was my motivation idol, my hero, she was a very strong advocate for women, she was the perfect person,” he told ABC radio.

Mr Gropel said he and his wife had been together since 2003. He also said they had trained for a year and planned to climb the highest peak on every continent as vegans.

He said that he and Dr Strydom set out from Camp Four on Everest on the Friday night of the tragedy.

But at about 8000 metres Dr Strydom began to feel ill, and although she was “not a quitter” he said she made a brave choice to turn around.

lucie.morrismarr@news.com.au

@luciemorrismarr