The lives of Ann Maguire's family changed forever when she was stabbed to death by a pupil in the classroom earlier this year.
In victim impact statements read out to the court, the true extent of the pain felt by the teacher's family was clear.
Husband Don said he felt he could "no longer be a dad" to his daughters, Kerry and Emma, after the murder of his wife.
He said: "I'm still a dad but cannot help my children understand, cannot help them come to terms, cannot help them lessen the pain. Mummy would have been so much better. I can no longer be a dad."
Mr Maguire described the dreams he had of living in a rural backwater with his "beautiful, vivacious, generous, caring" wife.
"Now all our dreams have gone forever," he said.
Daughter Kerry said the murder had robbed her of her mother, and her future children of a grandmother.
In her statement, she said: "Mummy was a constant. Her love was boundless and her heart was open. She was a beacon of light, guiding and protecting me through my life."
Mrs Maguire's other daughter Emma said: "Every morning, I wake up and I pray that this is all a bad dream, just a split second of hope which quickly vanishes and the horror of the reality sets in."
Her statement added: "She gave us so much love, I never felt alone in life, I had my mummy."
Mrs Maguire's sister Shelagh Connor told the court that her "baby sister" was an "essential part of me".
In her statement, Ms Connor said she felt she had failed to protect her sister.
She said: "For 61 years, I looked out for her. My life today seems to have lost meaning.
"My grief and sadness and anger overwhelm me when I think of all that Ann has been robbed of. She will never fulfil her great dreams and plans, she will not grow old with us, in the love of her family."
Another sister, Denise Courtney, said she was overcome with an overwhelming sense of loss.
Ms Courtney said the date of the murder will be etched in her memory forever.
She said: "The day when time stood still and my whole world fell apart."
Speaking outside the court after the sentencing, the sisters said: "The joy of living her life and the fulfilment of her hopes and dreams and passions have disappeared with this horrific, cruel, senseless and cowardly act.
"No amount of punishment can ever compensate for the loss of Ann's life. No amount of punishment can compensate her family for what we have lost in this beautiful, selfless, caring, patient sister, mother, wife, auntie and nana."
Mr Maguire, daughters Kerry and Emma, and nephews Daniel and Andrew added in a separate statement: "We look to the future with a fragile hope.
"We wish that nothing of Ann's life be lost, that she will be remembered as a life's partner, a mother, a sister, a Nana Ann, an auntie and genuine teacher with her generous spirit who led by example, always putting others first, especially young people."
