Ava Rosemeyer Life Story & Time Line

Ava's funeral was every bit as beautiful as we wanted it to be. I thought that trying to demonstrate just how much she means to us in a one hour ceremony would be impossible but with the help of our amazing family and beautiful friends, it really was a magical day.

We started the service with a slide show of photos which you can see here. (It takes a few minutes to load). Thank you so much to our wonderful friends, Kate and Steve Austin from Inhouse Studios for making this happen for us.

We had our eulogy delivered by my best friend, Jennifer Celotto, who's daughter Aria was one of Ava's closest little friends. She read..

My name is Jennifer Celotto. I am Sheye’s best friend and have known her since we were 15 years old.

In recent years, I have sadly experienced my own losses and Sheye and Crayton have offered me amazing support. I want to share with all of you now a story that Sheye gave to me in one of my darkest hours that allowed me to see the light and move forward in my grief.
I hope that they offer you some comfort now.

The Dragonfly

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

~Author Unknown~

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Sheye and Crayton have asked me to speak on their behalf today, so I read these words that they have written to celebrate their daughter.

Sitting down to write this eulogy for our beautiful daughter is one of the hardest things we have ever had to do but we want to take the opportunity to celebrate a beautiful life and share some of the things that made Ava amazing.

Everyone who met Ava was struck by her beauty and fell in love with her sweet, affectionate nature. We could speak for days about her little ways and the things that made her so happy…Being spoilt rotten by Grandad, choosing (or arguing over) her wardrobe with Mummy, showing of her ballet steps, singing You Are My Sunshine…Swimming with Daddy and the boys and getting cuddles galore…Playing with Aunty Sherrie’s jewelry, stealing Daddy’s blueberries and Mummy’s lipstick…

But if we had to say just one thing about Ava it was that she simply adored the colour pink. From her milkshakes to her shoes and all of her clothing. She had already placed her order with Daddy for a pink chandelier and a pink poodle. In Ava’s World, there simply was no other colour. Her Nanny says Ava is the only angel to have ever arrived in heaven and demanded a pink cloud.

We feel very saddened that Ava’s brothers, Luca and Mason, and sister, Ivy, have one less member of their club. They are frustrated that they now have three players instead of four and they wonder why she is not here to piggyback around but we will continue to strive to give them the happy life they all deserve and Ava will continue to be a part of that, every single day.

Those closest to us have an insight into just how close Grandad and Ava were. Grandad once commented how he’d gotten down to Ava’s level. We’re quite sure he never got back up. They were like two best friends, hanging out together, telling us fibs about just how much chocolate had been consumed and just adoring one another. Their bond was something simply magical.

To Nanny and Keggy – we all know the cuddles given will just never be enough.

It is important for us to pay tribute to a very special person in Ava’s life – her Aunty Angie. Ava was born into her Daddy and Angie’s arms. She held her for hours while her exhausted Mummy couldn’t and there began a deep bond. In our darkest hour of need, Angie once again came to stand beside us and she did not leave. And then, two days later, she held Ava once again when her Mummy was not able to while she returned to God. Words can never encompass the depth of gratitude we have for what you did for us and for Ava. We will never forget.

There are so very many people who touched Ava’s life and who we would love to acknowledge but in particular, we give thanks to these people in particular.

Her Sister Princess, Aria Violet. Our girls were born three weeks apart and in their short time together, formed a bond that mirrored our own. They shared identical passions for so many things and apart from the odd tussle over a tiara, they truly were “sisters found”. We know that when Aria dances, it will be for Ava too.

Her sweet little friend at kindy, Kirralee. We got to know her name so well. Everything Ava chose for kindy had to meet with Kiralee’s approval. They would meet in the mornings, with heartfelt hugs like old friends.

Miss Bernicey, Miss Chris, Miss Effie and Miss Kylee who made her even more beautiful at kindy with their amazing hair creations. She would protest so loudly having her hair done at home and then return in the evenings with an elaborate new style. While I’m sure she did this just to spite me, I would also see her hair and know that she had been loved that day.

We also would like to thank those who have assisted us this past week. Our neighbor for his selfless assistance, Police Constable Tanya Winter who’s compassion will never be forgotten. To the paramedics and staff at the Gold Coast Hospital, thankyou. The Mater Children’s Hospital PICU staff who never left our daughters side - who worked tirelessly and cared so deeply. We can never repay you.

Finally, we want you to know that amidst this terrible tragedy we have seen such beauty in people in our own community and around the World. We are so grateful and overwhelmed by the love and support shown to own family. It has opened our eyes to the fundamental goodness in everyday strangers. We will never forget your kindness.

It is impossible to try to make sense of what has happened but we have taken so much comfort in knowing that Ava’s days were nothing but truly happy. She was adored and cherished. We were besotted. She brought us so much happiness and we can never fill the void she has left.

Above all else though, we will remain forever grateful for the gift of Ava.

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My beautiful friend Carrie traveled across the country to be with me and she got up and spoke these words..

Mothers, Sisters, Friends. Three simple words that together say so much & mean even more to Sheye and 104 other women on our internet forum.

Over the last few years since Sheye joined we have been SO privileged to share a part of her life, and that is strange to some, but to us it is a lifeline of love, laughter & support.

Sheye & I came to form a particularly strong friendship through our common love of photography. She never ceases to inspire & amaze me and she is such a wonderful supporter & friend it is rare we go a day without speaking.

Although most of us never had the absolute privilege of meeting Ava in person, her character, spirit, kindness and sheer beauty was translated on a daily basis through Sheye’s words about her latest princess antics and her constant stream of divine photo’s that captured her essence. Through Sheye’s lens we watched her grow from a little babe into a beautiful princess.

Today there are 13 women here representing our group & it comes as no surprise to me that 4 of us have come from inter-state to attend and that as we speak, in every state of Australia our families are together releasing pink balloons in memory of Ava.
This is from us…

Through a screen,
In your Mum’s study,
Is an ocean of tears.
From a group of Mums who love you
and are holding you so near.
They hadn’t all got to meet you,
But love you just so much.
From seeing your curls and smile
through your Mummy’s magic touch.
Your smile could light a whole room,
your eyes could do no wrong.
Your spirit was so empowering,
your love of life so strong.
We know you now play with Angels,
And dance among the stars.
We know that you will send Mummy
your love down from afar.
Be free from pain, sweet Ava,
Let the Angels take your hand.
Show you where you can still see your Family,
As they try to understand.
Sleep peacefully, sweet baby,
in soft white clouds above.
Always knowing just how much you meant
to us whose lives you have touched.

Crayton's good friend Andrew delieverd a beautiful reading.

My sister Angie read these entries from my blog...

Sunday, April 30, 2006

My four loves.

One day my love loved me, and a while later came a much bigger love - so completely profound, whole, natural, terrifying and true.

This same love found me four times over.
Their names are luca. mason. ava and ivy.

I marvel at how lucky am i. how lucky are they. if not for that loving on those very days, would they still be? i dare not imagine otherwise.

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

My three year old terrifies me, have I told you that?

I found her strolling in the garden yesterday, my pink handbag slung over shoulder, lace doily worn a-la-flying nun. It started to rain so she rushed inside, declaring "Mum. My hair got wet", like it's one of the seven deadly sins. I laughed and said "I know..it's raining" and made the comment "Ava, you're such a princess". She spins around, hand on hip and says "Mum! I am NOT a princess"..She starts to walk away and says, completely deadpan "I'm a SUPER PRINCESS"!!!

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Friday, December 22, 2006

I have four children, really.

You just wouldn't know it the way I post pics of the girls - espescially Princess Ava. I can explain - you see she's never away from me. Like glue, she sticks to my side...a constant babble of "mummy i'm hungry..close your eyes i've got a suprise...can you read me a book...i want to go to the shops"...so when I pick up my camera, she's the first thing i see.

and then, in one of the most wonderful, treasured moments from that day, my 8 year old son Luca got up and spoke to the congregation. He had barely mentioned to me before the service that he wanted to speak about Ava and when he did, I felt very anxious as I knew he was not normally confident in front of groups. I assumed he would change his mind at the last moment but he didn't falter. He got up and said

"Thankyou all for coming. I want to tell you some happy stories about Ava so that you won't feel sad now that she has died. Ava loved pink. She loved ballet too. One day she got into bed and she poked Mummy in the eye and said "I love you Mummy" and Mummy said "I love you" back. (The congregation laughed there!) So when you feel sad, you can think of these things and feel better. Thankyou all for coming".

Luca took my breath away when he spoke those words. He did something neither Crayton or I could do on that day and he made me the proudest Mummy on Earth. I can't wait to tell him when he grows up so he too can understand just how special his words were.

We had a small group at Ava's graveside and the children released a butterfly each. It was without doubt the hardest moment of our lives - saying goodbye to our beautiful daughter. As we walked away, one of the butterflies came back and landed on her casket.

My lifelong friend Sherrie gave seedlings to each of the guests and we gave a photo of Ava for people to take home. Many people have contacted me to say they have planted the seedling and have Ava's photo up in their house. It makes us very happy to imagine her spirit in so many homes around the country. I want Ava to remind people to live every day with peace, kindness and appreciation. I want parents to hug their children tighter and cherish their babies with every ounce of their being. When I imagine this, I feel as though Ava's passing has not been for nothing, that she really could make the World a better place.