Mickey and Minnie being sent to Heaven to be with Hannah
Hannah is now laid to rest.
Her service yesterday was beautiful, heartbreaking, and just filled with overwhelming emotion. Big bouquet of pink and yellow balloons with a big Minnie and Mickey Mouse were on either side of her as well as a bright and colorful huge bouquet of flowers. The entire chapel was packed with family, friends, and even people we didn’t know.
Hannah was front and center under a beautiful quilt that was handmade for her with everything she loved the most – Minnie mouse, ladybugs, monkeys, music, giraffes… yet, it was still so hard to believe that she was in there. The casket was just so little. When we had our private family time at the beginning, it was all I could do not to scoop her up and take her out of there. All that stood between me and her was just a few inches of wood, that was all.
The rabbi did a wonderful job, infusing a little bit of religion in with a lot of introspection about Hannah’s life journey. The cantor, who was absolutely amazing, sang some of Hannah’s favorite songs including Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, You Lift Me Up, and the last song I sang to Hannah before she passed, You Are My Sunshine. Both my good friend and Hannah’s last nurse gave heartwarming emotional tributes.
Then I gave my tribute. I was blubbering through the whole thing, but I was able to get through it thanks to having Abigail by my side at the podium.
At the end of that part of the service, they showed the video montage of Hannah that we had created. Even though it was 7 minutes long, to me it wasn’t long enough. I wanted to see more and more pictures of my baby girl’s beautiful smile.
It was then time to take the long walk from the chapel to Hannah’s final home in the Children’s Garden in the cemetery. We all followed behind Hannah who was in a bright white hearse. The pallbearers, who were made up of Hannah’s grandfathers, her uncle Keith, and three very special friends, helped bring Hannah to her area.
As Hannah was lying there in front of me, lifted up above the hole in ground where she would be laid to rest, I couldn’t help but look around this part of the cemetery. All of these kids, these other fighters like her. Some a day old, some a few years old. All with stories likely similar to Hannah, a beautiful life taken away too soon.
Mickey and Minnie on their way to Hannah ~ in my heart, I believe these white streaks were Hannah's way of saying she was there waiting
Then it came time for the balloon release, which if I had to choose a favorite part (which sounds weird), this was it. Ethan and Abigail cut the balloons (which were brought out from the chapel), each bouquet with 15 pink and yellow balloons with either a huge Minnie or a huge Mickey balloon. It was Ethan and Abigail who let the balloons go into the sky and everyone in attendance watch them fly up to Hannah.
It was perfect…I kept picturing my little girl seeing all of these balloons, her favorite colors and characters, coming towards her with love, sent from her brother and sister. There were streaks of white in the sky, and I knew this had to be a sign that Hannah was there just waiting for them.
Then the hardest part of the service. They lowered Hannah into the ground, and as is in Jewish tradition, everyone who was there took a shovel of dirt and sprinkled Hannah’s basket. It is a way for everyone who loved her to help prepare her final resting place for her. Even our funeral directors, who were so touched by Hannah’s life and story, joined in.
And then it was over.
Everybody left, hopefully holding a piece of Hannah in their hearts forever.
Carrie,
Thank you for continuing to write in your blog. For those of us who do not know you, but have learned to love you and Hannah through our reading about you still want to hear from you and know that you are okay. I will continue to pray for you and hold you in my thoughts and in my heart. I will also be praying for your husband and your children. The service sounds so beautiful and so much a celebration of the life she lived. Please take care of yourself and be patient with yourself. Please know that others care and send their most heartfelt sympathy.
Judy
How I wish we could have been there in person to show our love and support! The balloons maje me smile. That would be my favorite part too. To have sunshine and blue skies and mild temps in Ohio in Dec was so rare. Our sparkly balloons flew quickly up to Hannah with our love. As we stood and watched them, Olivia said “Hannah is catching balloons with my brothers! <3 "
Your little girl is smiling down on you and telling her new friends, “check out my mom. Is she not the greatest? Look at my dad, isn’t he handsome? And my sister and brother, they are my best friends. I am so lucky. I was so blessed to have them… they are the best.” You my friend are an inspiration. A soldier who weathered a battle with grace and dignity. You have allowed all of us to enter your world and fall in love with your children and then allowed us to mourn with you. Thank you for including us in Hannah’s journey. In sharing her smile and her spirit you have opened up (for me at least) a part of my heart I almost didn’t know existed. Carrie, you are my hero.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes,
often when we least expect them.
Heroes do what others wont or don’t care enough to do.
Heroes do the work – not to become heroes…
They do the work because the work needs to be done.
Heroes don’t look for recognition, but deserve it all.
Heroes are humble while the rest of the world is proud of them.
Heroes are brave but fearful.
They are human and cry like everyone else.
Heroes make others live in hope, where there was no hope!
Heroes are a true blessing to all they touch.
Heroes just make sure that even the smallest part of the world is a better place because they are here and took the time to care.
Carrie you are my hero!
..and the hero to many others.
The world will miss “Little Miss Hannah’s” presence but through your heroics her legend will live on.
God Bless You!
Larry Steinhouse
Carrie, Thank you for sharing the details of Hannah’s service. I was all ready to come and then ended up with car trouble. It was early. I took it to a garage that was open, still hopeful, but they didn’t get it done. Even though I would have been one of the people you had never met, I wanted to be there to honor your baby girl, and your whole family, and to honor all who know too well the pain of Gaucher’s or other rare diseases. You are still in my prayers.
Carolyn (in Las Vegas)
You guys have never left my thoughts and I’m saddened to hear that Hannah is gone. Thank you so much for sharing her service and for allowing me to be apart of your lives. God bless your family and continue to give you peace. I pray the foundation really makes a difference and brings the rare diseases to light. I’ve learned a lot from you and Hannah… about Gaucher’s, rare diseases, love, perseverance, strength… xoxo