Tragic in every sense of the word, the accidental death of a child is unimaginably difficult to bear. This unforeseen and untimely death hit too close to home and left us reeling, our hearts broken for our bereaved friends – April 15 through 23rd.
HALE AND HEARTY THE WEEK BEFORE
The week before his untimely death Zafer flew in from Colorado to celebrate his great aunt Joyce’s 80th birthday. Here he stands with his parents and siblings, smiling in the sun with out any inkling or what lay ahead.
BITTERSWEET WEEK
Against all odds, we found ways to make the best of a terrible week. Audrey gives Uncle Glen a pedicure on Lyle and Tami’s back deck. The triumphant group who spread the pine straw along the finished Farewell Trail stand behind the prayer flags Bob transferred from our back porch. Camille wrote about the week and its effect on her here: After Z
FAREWELL TRAIL
Look closely and you will see Trip and his bobcat carving the trail. Chris drove down in his wheelchair when it was done. He will also find his final resting place along this trail
A MONSTER EVENT
We planned for 300, but the turnout was easily double that. Cars were parked all the way from The Plant to Pittsboro Feed on Highway 64 and there were many more standing than sitting in the 200 chairs in front of the stage.
WELL-LOVED
Lyle and Tami have touched so many with their vision and generosity that the grounds were overflowing with people come to pay their respects.
Longtime family friend Leif sits on the lawn outside the business he ran with Lyle years ago. The family manages a smile at something being said up on the stage.
SCHOOL MATES
Northwood High School was well represented and students flew in from The University of Colorado.
BRAVE PARENTS
First Lyle, then Tami got on stage and spoke of their son. Somehow they managed to keep it real, deep and informal.
BROTHER AND SISTER
Arlo and Kaitlin also managed to speak to the crowd.
Hearing Zafer favored the color orange as a child, Susan tied bows of orange ribbon to the tent posts.
COUSINS AND BEYOND
Cousins wrapped up the family eulogies with music and then Zafer’s housemates and former school mates took the mic.
PALLBEARERS
The pallbearers were heartbreakingly young. This photo was taken by Kevin Bopal after Bob, Camille and Amy left to set up at the burial site.
MONCURE PITTSBORO ROAD
A group of volunteers waited for the funeral procession to arrive. A storm passed through. Alisa, Amie and Chris did a little rain dance in their driveway where we would soon begin parking cars.
The police blocked off both sides of the road. Lesley Landis designed and printed signs that were a little lighter than the usual “Slow Death in Family”
FAREWELL
The final goodbye took place on the Farewell Trail. People took turns until all the clay was moved back into the hole on top of Zafer’s casket.