Balloon tribute for tragic Nelson girl's funeral (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Balloon tribute for tragic Nelson girl's funeral

10:20am Friday 6th January 2012 in Nelson By Chris Gee, Reporter

BALLOONS were released yesterday as a community said goodbye to a five-year-old girl, who left behind ‘a legacy of love’.

More than 300 mourners attended Holy Saviour RC church in Nelson for the funeral of Shaylee Houghton, who died last Thursday after bravely battling a brain tumour.

Family and friends of the ‘joyful and vibrant’ little girl shed silent tears as her funeral cortege made its way through her home town.

Her tiny pink coffin travelled in a glass carriage covered with hundreds of carnations and was pulled by two black horses, adorned with pink livery and plumes.

Many of those attending wore ‘Shaylee’s Angels’ T-shirts, emblazoned with a smiling image of the youngster.

Others carried cuddly toys or wore an item of pink in tribute to Shaylee.

She was just set to start her first year at Holy Saviour Primary School in August, when she was diagnosed with a rare brain disease at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The condition, grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, affects just three out of every 100,000 people and is incurable and inoperable.

Priest Father Gorton, who led the service, told the packed church: “Even death cannot break the chain of love which each and everyone of you felt deeply for Shaylee.”

Following her diagnosis she had six weeks of radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, followed by a week off before commencing a further gruelling course of chemotherapy.

Father Gorton added that although she was ‘very poorly’, her life in recent months had still contained many ‘wonderful and joyous’ moments.

She had visited Peppa Pig Land and last month the Make a Wish Foundation had arranged for a trip to Lapland with her mother, Gemma, where she enjoyed ‘a perfect Christmas experience’.

Although only five, Shaylee had also developed a budding passion for football, in particular Manchester City, her mother saying that she was happiest when wearing one of the team’s playing kits.

Hymns played during the service were ones that Shaylee herself enjoyed and ‘sang with vigour’.

They included Lord of the Dance and All Things Bright And Beautiful.

Father Gorton also said he had visited Shaylee’s young classmates at Holy Saviour Primary School on Tuesday to offer them comfort and help them understand the loss of their young friend.

Following the discovery of her illness, a fundraising group was launched on Facebook which has over 1,600 members.

The site has been inundated with tributes and messages of sympathy in the week since her death.

Following the requiem service, most present made the short journey to Walton Lane Cemetery, where Shaylee was laid to rest.

A final tribute at the cemetery saw mum Gemma, distribute dozens of sky blue and white balloons to mourners, who released them to the sound of her favourite football team’s anthem, ‘Blue Moon’.