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Carrie Allen, the 12 year old daughter of the Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral New Plymouth, Jamie Allen and his wife Suzy, was buried in the Cathedral’s graveyard last Friday.
Only on rare occasions, since the graveyard at St Mary’s was closed in 1861, has permission been granted for a burial there. The last was in 1935 although the spreading of ashes of relatives of those interred pre-1861 has been permitted.
Permission was sought for Carrie because “the cathedral had captured her heart” and her “love and cheeky smile” meant the Allens shared her with many, her father said.
Carrie was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer shortly before the family moved to New Plymouth in 2009.
Carrie was a year 8 student at Devon Intermediate and as part of her honours programme organised a concert last month to raise funds for Child Cancer and CanTeen.
After meeting New Zealand singer Dave Dobbyn while receiving treatment at Starship children’s hospital this year she put in a call to her “friend” asking him to sing at the concert.
Dobbyn and Carrie performed together to a crowd of more than 500 and raised $8000 for charity at “Carrie’s Concert”.
Yesterday, Dobbyn sent a message of support from Auckland.
“It’s a pure delight to know Carrie,” he said. “Her light shines bright and my heart is with the family in grief at her passing.”
Mr Allen said his daughter was exhausted, on heavy pain relief and yet completely focused on completing her honours project five weeks ago.
“Her only reservation was over the naming of the concert.”
Source
- TaranakiCathedral.org
- Image: Stuff.co.nz
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