‘Perfect’ funeral for car death youngster
TRAGIC schoolgirl Melissa Tate will pass through a tunnel of bubbles as she is taken to her final resting place.
The 10-year-old’s funeral will take place at Newcastle’s West Road Crematorium today.
Melissa, who was known affectionately as Missy, died in hospital after being hit by a car near her home in Kenton, Newcastle, last month.
Her heartbroken family has planned a unique and personal funeral for the little girl which will give her young friends and schoolmates the chance to say goodbye.
Gary McGee, of Co-op Funeralcare, in Benwell, told the Chronicle the service had been planned with the children in mind, and that everyone had pulled out all the stops to give Melissa a perfect send-off.
He said: “Every funeral has to be perfect, but there is that extra onus where it’s a 10-year-old.
“The service is going to be sad, but it’s also about celebrating who Melissa was.”
Melissa was struck by a van on Hillsview Avenue on the evening of Wednesday, September 25.
She died in hospital the following day.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Kenton community. Mountfield Primary School, where Melissa was a pupil, will be closed tomorrow to allow children and teachers to attend the funeral.
“The whole school is closed for the day, they are going to get as many children there as possible,” said Mr McGee. “All the children will be in their school jumpers because they are blue and blue was Missy’s favourite colour, and there will be a blue theme. We have made it really personal.”
Other unique touches will include a huge bubble release as the family’s cars are driven into the crematorium. And Mr McGee said Melissa’s family wanted the funeral to be as child-focused as possible.
“We have bought 10 big bubble guns and we are looking to create a roof of bubbles as the cortege comes in,” he explained.
“The music when she comes in will be quite up-to-date stuff that Melissa liked, and when she comes out, it will be the schoolchildren singing.
“The important people are the children. The grown-ups can understand it, but children at that ages still don’t fully understand what’s going on.” Connor Marsden, 23, of Ambridge Way, Kenton, is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on October 28, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Every funeral has to be perfect, but there is that extra onus where it’s a 10-year-old Gary McGee, funeral director