A funeral in her grandma’s garden
Heidi’s festival
A favourite story, flowers in everyone’s hair, and apricot jam sandwiches.
Heidi died aged eight after a long illness. Her parents wanted a funeral that included the people and pets she loved.
By the stream
Heidi loved spending time with her brother and sister by the stream at the bottom of her grandma’s garden. Her parents chose the garden so people could gather somewhere meaningful and have space to mourn. They called the ceremony “Heidi’s festival”.
On a Saturday afternoon, her coffin rested on trestles beside the water. Her brother and sister had decorated it with crayon drawings and butterfly stickers.
A story, flowers and a picnic
Her grandma read Heidi’s favourite story aloud as relatives and friends sat on picnic blankets. Everyone wore flowers in their hair, with petals in Heidi’s favourite colours.
Their golden retrievers sat among the guests, with flowers woven into their collars. Later, a picnic included Heidi’s favourite apricot jam sandwiches.
A private goodbye at the crematorium followed, attended by her closest relatives.
