The farewell of a well-loved teenager was downscaled because of stringent social distancing rules due to the country being in the midst of a coronavirus lockdown.
Holly Smallman's pink coffin arrived at her funeral yesterday to a crowd of just 10, in accordance with measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
While attendance at the funeral itself was small, well wishers lined the streets of Liverpool to say their goodbyes, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Many of those who knew Holly wore pink for the severely-ill 18-year-old, in accordance with her mum Hayley's wishes.
But it was at the family's home in Fazakerley, and close to the usually-packed crematorium on Priory Road where the most fervent tears were shed.
A horse and carriage was still permitted by undertakers, and it processed along Walton Vale and Queen's Drive on its way to Holly's last resting place.
About 100 yards from the crematorium, mum Hayley, 42, climbed out of the funeral car, together with her husband Gary, and two other children, Ruby, 12, and Josh, 21.
They looked on with appreciation at people who had decided to line the street, keeping their social distance of two-metres apart, many who were also wearing pink.
Hayley clutched a heart-shaped cushion, with Holly's picture on it, and smiled and mouthed 'Thank you' to onlookers who burst into applause for the young BBC Hospital TV star.
The horse-drawn carriage was decorated with pink balloons, but perhaps most touchingly of all, was the teen's small coffin, in the same symbolic colour.
An onlooker, who watched the Smallman family from a distance, told the ECHO: "It was upsetting to see, but at the same time, so much love on show.
"Hayley and her family put brave faces on throughout, thanking everyone who came to see them.
"But at the same time, you could see she was clearly in torment.
Rising early on the day of the funeral, Hayley said: "Today’s the day, Hol, that I desperately prayed would never come.
"You are my whole world and more.
"I can’t give you the day I planned, but I promise that this world will be a little bit pinker today.
"Because Hol, you’re amazing just the way you are."
The mum-of-three sent the ECHO a photo of her daughter's funeral's pink coffin, inscribed with the words, "To be continued," adding how the family had been decorating her "forever" bedroom on Thursday evening.
Hayley simply added: "I think we need to finish the story, don't we?"
The parent's message throughout the past week, after getting the devastating news many of Holly's family and friends could not attend because of Covid-19 social distancing rules, was to wear pink for her cherished daughter.
Coleen Rooney dressed herself in a pink T-shirt, and told her 1.2m followers on Twitter : "Wearing pink today for Holly Smallman.
"A special little angel who went to Claire House with our Rosie.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smallman family on this sad day."
Members from Merchant Taylor's School in Crosby observed the colourful request, and Claire House, the Merseyside children's hospice, who knew Holly well, saying: "Today, everyone here is thinking of the Smallman family.
Strict rules, introduced earlier this week because of Covid-19, meant the family could not even touch Holly's coffin before it left for cremation.
Unless they lived in the same household, relatives were advised not to hug, and seats at the Anfield place of rest were kept far apart during the short service.
Instead of a packed service and wake, at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Stanley Park where hundreds were due to attend, poignant plans and ideas were scaled back.
Plans have been discussed to have a big celebration later in the year, once Covid-19 has passed, to share photos and videos of the much-loved teenager and her short life.
Holly was severely-ill throughout her childhood, with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and chronic lung disease, and needed 24-hour care, provided by her loved ones at home, rather than an intensive care unit.
