Laura Hillier was just 13 when she was first diagnosed with leukemia. After four years of fighting the disease, she thought she had won. But tragically, the cancer came back.
Laura was a bright, beloved student at Nelson High School in Ontario, Canada. Despite her incredible strength, she passed away on January 20, 2016, at 18 years old. She had acute myeloid leukemia and was waiting for a transplant that could have saved her life.
Sadly, the transplant never came in time. Laura spent her last moments in a hospital in Canada, surrounded by the family and friends who loved her so much.
On the day Laura passed, her family shared a touching message with everyone who had supported her through the “Hope for Laura” Facebook page: “She fought bravely and all of you would have been so proud of her. Her poise, her courage, her strength, and her pure spirit shone through right until the end.”
To honor Laura’s memory, her family, friends, fellow students, and teachers came together to create a truly unique tribute. They decided to turn her casket into a colorful work of art, filled with messages celebrating her life.
Using bright markers, they wrote heartfelt notes all over the casket, making it look like a yearbook full of loving send-offs. This beautiful idea was inspired by Laura’s own 12th-grade yearbook, which she had received not long before she passed.
As these messages covered her casket, the tribute quickly gained attention far beyond her community. People all over were moved by the love and admiration shown in the inscriptions. Some wrote about her amazing musical and artistic talents, while others shared how deeply she had touched their lives.
Phrases like, “You were musical. You were artistic. You were understanding. You were my best friend,” and “Life is a song… Sing ’til your heart’s content” captured just how special Laura was to everyone who knew her.
Purple, which was Laura’s favorite color, was everywhere at her funeral. From the flowers to the clothes people wore—a purple scarf or tie—it was all a vivid reminder of Laura’s vibrant and lively spirit.
In Laura’s memory, her family has asked that donations be made to Coast to Coast, a national charity dedicated to ending childhood cancer.
This way, Laura’s fight continues, helping other children who are battling the same terrible disease.
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