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Nia Eastman forever remembered by community as little girl “full of life”

Nov 17, 2016 | 4:00 PM

A memorial service was held today in Choiceland, Sask. to celebrate the life of Nia Eastman, a little girl who touched the lives of so many in her community.

Seven-year-old Nia was found dead in a Choiceland home on Nov. 10 just hours after an Amber Alert triggered a province-wide search. Police reports say her father, Adam Jay Eastman, killed his daughter before committing suicide. 

Hundreds gathered for the service, and packed Choiceland’s Elks Memorial Hall to capacity while RCMP shut down the town’s main street to direct traffic. Parked cars lined both sides of the street, and late arrivals were forced to watch the service on closed-circuit television from bleachers in the nearby curling rink.

Many attendees wore bright colours to the service, and the hall was decorated with bright balloons in a tribute to a little girl who loved wearing colourful clothing and mismatched socks.

Reverend Krystal Sheremeta officiated the service, and told of a girl who was “unapologetically herself,” a girl who wore whatever clothes she liked and brought joy to the lives of everyone she met.

“Nia should be here,” Sheremeta said, as many guests wiped their eyes.

Attendees heard how Nia loved books, and how she arrived to the first day of Kindergarten already able to read. Because Nia volunteered her time as a student helper at Choiceland’s Public Library, her family has asked memorial tributes be directed to the library in lieu of flowers.

In a previous interview with paNOW, Choiceland mayor Robert Mardell said he was proud of the support offered to Nia’s family in the wake of her tragic death, and spoke of the joy Nia brought to the community.

“She’s going to be missed,” Mardell said, “because when she walked into a room she lit everything up. How could you not love a pretty seven-year-old girl that’s full of life?”

All week, mourners left tributes at the site where Nia was found, which is now marked by a growing collection of flowers, balloons, handwritten cards and stuffed animals. Several candles were burning at the site, and a number of books were left to commemorate Nia’s love of reading.

An online crowdfunding campaign was started Friday, raising money to support Nia’s family in their time of grief. The GoFundMe page has already generated $34,000 in donations, well past their initial goal of $5,000.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews