Walton School student Ellie Kurth, 7, was farewelled today at a service in Matamata. Photo / Supplied
Walton School student Ellie Kurth, 7, was farewelled today at a service in Matamata. Photo / Supplied
A gorgeous, funny girl with an infectious smile who loved playing grown-ups, and who was "a heck of a lot of fun" - that's how 7-year-old Ellie Kurth was remembered today during a tearful farewell.
Dozens of helium balloons in Ellie's favourite colours were dotted around Matamata Bible Church, wherethe funeral of the primary school pupil was held this afternoon.
Ellie died on Thursday after she suffered a medical incident at Walton School where her father Jeremy Kurth is principal and her mother Anna is a teacher.
Jeremy wore Ellie's favourite T-shirt of his, Anna had a pink butterfly top and purple tassel necklace and her sister had a sunflower top on, chosen especially in her memory and because of her love of bright colours.
At the front of the church sat a pint-sized white coffin decorated with butterfly stickers and on top were a pair of the 7-year-old's favourite black cowgirl boots.
Holding back tears, her father Jeremy told the crowd of about 500 family, friends of his fun little girl who always made him smile.
"Ellie was love, Ellie was happiness and Ellie was a heck of a lot of fun."
Walton School student Ellie Kurth, pictured as a superhero, was remembered as a fun and bubbly 7-year-old at her funeral today. Photo / Supplied
She loved fishing, dancing, writing stories and pretending to be a teacher, shopkeeper and a real estate agent. She would constantly sell the family home for $100 - telling her mum it was a good price.
Ellie was born with a rare skin condition on the back of her head, but Jeremy said she took all the operations and tests in her stride.
"That's what Ellie always was - a positive wee thing. There was just something special about Ellie - she was not an extrovert, but damn she was funny.
"Ellie was loved by so many. I think that's because she gave out so much love."
She loved hanging out in the principal's office and he often had to tell her to go outside and play with her friends.
"Truth be told Ellie was a bit of a geek. She loved school and not just because she had the principal wrapped around her finger.
"It's impossible to sum up my gorgeous girl's life in such a short amount of time. It's all the little things that add up to Ellie's big life."
Anna Kurth said her brave daughter had undergone 11 general anaesthetics in her short life and had been especially unwell in the past seven weeks.
But despite feeling ill, she had managed to plan every detail of her birthday party next month - something her parents only discovered at the weekend.
Hand-made invitations were hidden in her bedside table and in her desk was a list of the games they would play at the party.
On the night before she died, she even left a present list and stuck it on the fridge. The list included a fart blaster - because she thought farts were hilarious.
