The family of 10-year-old Hebe said goodbye to the girl in a private circle on Thursday afternoon in the former Petruskerk in Vught. The coffin was taken to the church in a pastel blue colored Volkswagen van. The coffin was painted with flowers and the text ‘the sweetest and the softest’.
Relatives arrived together in three Volkswagen vans at the former church. Hundreds of guests gathered from noon for the private farewell service. Some attendees brought a stuffed animal, flowers or a card.
The family emphasizes that this is a private meeting. They ask for privacy and tranquility. If people still want to show their support, they can still do so at the Hebehuis in Vught.
She would like to thank everyone who sympathized and contributed to finding Hebe and Sanne. “That is a huge support for us in this difficult time.”
The family lived for days between hope and despair. “And this is a terrible ending to a great drama. Our grief is intense and very great,” the family said in a statement shortly after the girl and her companion were found.
Tragic ending
The disabled girl from Vught left last Monday afternoon with her supervisor Sanne in a black Kia Picanto from ‘t Overstapje, an orthopedic day center in Raamsdonksveer. They never arrived in Vught. The police mounted large searches for days, supported by volunteer groups. An AMBER Alert was also issued.
The search came to a tragic end after two days, on Wednesday that week, when Sanne’s car was found in the water at Knooppunt Empel (A59/A2) near Den Bosch. Police believe the pair died in a fatal accident.
Media present
Some media were allowed to be present at the arrival of Hebe and the family at the farewell service. This was done in consultation with a spokesperson for On behalf of the Family (part of Victim Support). They assist the family.
Since the death of Hebe and Sanne, there has been a memorial at the HebeHuis in Vught. People put flowers and stuffed animals there.