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Having exhausted all medical options, mum took Will into her arms at 2am on Thursday morning, for their first cuddle. It lasted long.
died at 3.10am on 24th November 2011 in his father's arms. He is in better hands now. He has come home.
Funeral
On Friday 2nd December we held a service for Will at
Eltham Uniting Church. His mother carried him into the church and laid him in an open cot, which we decorated with flowers from our garden. From 10am, there was an opportunity to meet Will and say goodbye. For the service, see
order of service,
reflection and
eulogy. At 11.15am, mum carried Will out of the church.
With close family, we went to a chapel at the crematorium, where we held Will for another hour. Piet and Emma decorated the coffin's lid. His father and aunt Hanna sang Will two songs: Gezang 66, Mijn ziel verheft Gods eer, which was sung at Will's late grandfather Piet's grave, and Gezang 387, O Heer mijn God ook deze nacht, which grandfather Piet used to sing to and with his children before bedtime. Mum laid Will in his little white coffin with two roses, some flowers from our garden and the rabbit that had been with him his whole life - the only thing he has ever held in his hand. We screwed the decorated lid on the coffin. Dad carried Will to the funeral car and read him a blessing. We watched him depart.
