Hundreds of mourners, including more than a dozen schoolfriends, packed into an Inverness church yesterday to say farewell to Chloe Morrison.
The popular 11-year-old became unwell earlier this month and underwent an operation on her bowel at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, after her condition deteriorated.
The Smithton Primary pupil did not survive the surgery.
During the hour-long service attended by more than 200 people at the Barn Church, Culloden, the Rev Jim Robertson said the service was a “bittersweet” occasion and said that everyone wanted to support the family.
Paul Haringman, a local community worker, gave a poignant tribute to Chloe, who regularly attended the church with her grandfather, Arthur Harris.
He said the youngster loved school, art and dancing, and she was due to be in the Rock Challenge show at the local Eden Court Theatre with classmates next month.
The performance on February 28 will promote healthy choices.
He said that Chloe loved the colour pink and being outdoors – in all weathers.
Mr Haringman said Chloe was a caring girl who loved to look after both animals and people. He told mourners that she had wanted to look after two orphaned lambs during the family’s holiday in Aultbea one year.
Chloe was “beautiful, active and wonderful”, he said, and had learned some basic sign language to help her communicate with a deaf child in her nursery and she had learned some Polish to speak with immigrant children at her school.
Mourners sang a Christmas carol, Come and Join the Celebration, which was one of the little girl’s favourites.
The service finished with The Lord’s My Shepherd, chosen by Chloe’s mother.
Floral tributes included one in the shape of butterfly from her grandfather, while there were also flowers from her parents, Tracy and Duncan Morrison, and Chloe’s sister, Katherine.
Chloe was buried in Kilvean Cemetery after the funeral service.
Donations were given to the ARCHIE Foundation, which supports sick children in the north and north-east.