Cries and screams echoed throughout the St Francis RC Church, Brierley Street, Sangre Grande, yesterday morning at the funeral service for three-year-old Ariah Sheppard.
The toddler died last Tuesday after she fell ill while at her grandmother’s house in Matelot. Relatives claimed that had there been a proper ambulance service for the remote community, Ariah would have been alive today.
Yesterday, the toddler’s death proved to be too much for her mother, Keisha Roland, who collapsed as the tiny casket with her daughter’s body was brought into the church.
Ariah’s sisters, Samaiyah and Nia were in tears beside the casket and eventually had to be lifted away by relatives.
The child’s aunt Alana Alfred in her eulogy, said Ariah, or Ari as she was called, was like her daughter. She described her as very brilliant. She lamented her niece’s untimely death.
“I recalled that dreaded Tuesday evening when Ariah was on my lap vomiting, sweating and gasping for breath. My little baby who had me busy had to suffer and die waiting for an ambulance as she wept. I will never forget this time as long as I live,” she said.
Ariah and her sisters, who lived in Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, spent most of their holidays with their grandmother in Matelot.
Her aunt said it was their second home, which would be filled with Ariah’s love for music and dance.
“When Ariah arrives at Matelot, tell yourself it’s a whole Ari dance routine you getting. She was jovial, always jolly, too brilliant for her age with her little hot, smart mouth always have an answer for you,” the aunt said.
She added, “We are yet to come to terms on her passing. Something is missing from our Matelot home, the place is dry without Ariah.”
She said that Ariah was very close to her grandmother Lucian Alfred an d when in Matelot would sleep next to her granny.
“She was too sweet a toddler. On her arrival on Saturday at Matelot, she lit up the house with love and happiness, she would discipline her sisters and cousins. Always polite saying ‘good morning’ to all and ‘enjoy your day’,” the aunt remembered.
Alfred said they all had no idea “that this beautiful angel, little baby was going to leave us suddenly. She is no longer physical with us but little angelic Ari will live in our hearts.”
Fr Raymond Francis in his homily said God needed Ariah back home with him. He said while she will be missed by her parents and relatives, they must live on and follow the love Ariah shared while on earth for her short time.
Fr Francis appealed to friends and church members to share their love and support for Ariah’s family during their time of grief.
During the funeral service, Ariah’s favourite songs, Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” and Phil Collins’ “Come with Me” filled the church.
Following the funeral service, little Ariah was interred at the Turure cemetery.
An autopsy ruled that she died after inhaling her own vomit.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority, in a release, after the child’s death, said an ambulance driver had gone to the house where Ariah was to transport her to the Toco Health Facility for medical attention.
