Sad scenes were played on Saturday in the auditorium of the Eden congregation in George in the Southern Cape, where a service was held for Heidi Scheepers and her two children from Herolds Bay.
Heidi, 35, Hugo, 2, and Cuzette, 6, disappeared into their Volkswagen Caravelle on October 22 after being on the beach at Herolds Bay with her husband, Ettienne, the owner of the Herolds Bay Cafe.
He didn’t leave the beach with them, but apparently went to the store to get his car. When they did not arrive at the house, he reported them as missing.
The Volkswagen Caravelle was found at low tide in the sea at Voëlklip, a fishing spot near Herolds Bay, on October 23. It was believed to have dumped between 100 m and 120 m (police) the day before.
Hugo’s body was found in his car seat on October 24, where it floated in the sea near the car wreck.
The wreck was lifted out of the sea that night. Heidi’s body was taken from the sea at Herolds Bay on October 26.
The search for the missing Cuzette has since been scaled down. It is still unknown why Heidi and I were on that road. Police say an inquest is underway.
The auditorium was full of family, friends and business acquaintances on Saturday. In the front of the auditorium, three large photos of Heidi and the children stood with white flower beetles.
Heidi and Hugo’s coffins were brought into the auditorium when the service began. Ettienne was one of the carriers. Photos of the family were also constantly displayed on screens and many people cried.
“We remember and cherish. . . We will never forget you. We long and hope. We know we will see you again, ”says the funeral letter, among others.
At the service, Ettienne said in a tribute in a voice message, among other things, that Heidi was ecstatic when they first heard that they were going to get a pink foot. Cuzette became very ill at one point and with a rare disorder, h oloprosenkefalie , diagnosed. He referred to Hugo as “Boeta”. “He was the long-haired blonde man of the house.”
Hugo said he dominated the house, sang and danced and always greeted everyone. He told how Hugo would say when he got off work, “sit down, dad, sit down”.
Heidi was a loving mother and the quiet one.
The essay “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley, which deals with a child with special needs, was also displayed and read on a screen.
Eden congregation teacher Koos van der Merwe said Ettienne made a special request to him to encourage people and ask them to live fully and appreciate each other.
“Death waits for all people, even if you have a carefree existence,” he said. According to him, Jesus is a man’s light in the dark and if you look at the cross you will be able to go all the way. Death was not the end, but an eternal beginning and one day there will be another encounter.
“Watching Calvary and Bird Clip won’t get you down,” he said. Van der Merwe also sang the song “Houtkruis”.
After the service, the family was given the first opportunity to put white feathers on the chests and light candles. Then people who knew Heidi could do the same.
