Laura Hillier was first diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 13. After four years of being cancer-free, the disease tragically returned.
Laura, a talented and well-loved student at Nelson High School in Ontario, Canada, lost her battle with leukemia on January 20, 2016.
That day, her family shared a heartfelt message with their numerous friends and followers on 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 her memory, Laura’s family, friends, and teachers decided to turn her casket into a canvas of love and remembrance, using colorful markers to write heartfelt messages.
These photos and her story quickly went viral, touching the hearts of strangers worldwide…
Laura Hillier passed away on January 20, 2016, at the age of 18, due to acute myeloid leukemia while waiting for a transplant.
Surrounded by her loved ones, Laura took her last breath in a Canadian hospital.
Her journey with cancer began at 13, and after four years of remission, she relapsed in May of the previous year.
Laura was known at Nelson High School for her passion for music and drama.
Though she received her 12th-grade yearbook before she passed, her family and friends wanted her funeral to reflect a fitting “yearbook send-off.”
In a touching tribute, Laura’s family, friends, neighbors, teachers, classmates, medical staff, and coworkers came together to transform her casket into a beautiful yearbook. They inscribed it with messages celebrating her life, vibrant spirit, and extraordinary talent.
Heartfelt notes in various colors covered the casket.
“You were musical. You were artistic. You were understanding. You were my best friend.”
“Life is a song…Sing ’til your heart’s content.”
“Very brave and strong. You will always be a hero.”
Laura’s favorite color, purple, was elegantly integrated into her funeral service—from the flowers to the attendees’ attire, including scarves and ties.
Donations in Laura’s name can be made to Coast to Coast, a national charity dedicated to ending childhood cancer.
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