Sophie eulogy


Our dear Sophie Rose came into this world on January 14th 2003 alongside her slightly older and bigger brother Ted. But today Ted, I’m afraid  to say, this is all about Sophie!!


Sophie  certainly was born with a smile on her face and with us proclaiming that we had the most beautiful babies in the world (we still think that Grandma) and it’s the truth!


Sophie was always happy, joyful, demanding food. She didn’t hold back when she wanted her milk and as a baby went from zero to screaming immediately, hence Granny Catherine labelling her Little Miss Dynamite!


Having 2 babies at the same time, it’s only natural that you would compare their development, Ted was your text book baby with Sophie doing things in her own time. On the 5th February this year our question as to why Soph took longer to reach certain milestones was answered. But today is not about listing Sophie’s difficulties, it’s about celebrating her life and her incredible achievements despite what we now know was going on in her brain. 


From day 1 Sophie showed the most unbelievable courage. We really do appreciate all the overwhelming support from family and friends but the person that really got us through was Sophie, never complaining always smiling, putting complete trust in us and her arms around us when we were struggling.


Aged 3, Sophie and Ted started pre school at Playtime under 5’s in Wish Park. They walked in hand in hand each day and whilst Ted was probably leading the way in, it was Sophie  offering Ted security and comfort. At 4 and a half they began their education in separate classes at St. Andrew’s primary school. In Y1 Sophie was an Angel in the school Christmas play and we can still picture Soph standing at the front of the stage so happy and enjoying the moment. In Y2 Sophie and Ted were Mary and Joseph in the nativity play, a highlight for any parents. A wow factor for us, not diminished in any way in that it was a non speaking role! We said then that nothing ever could surpass that!


Despite Sophie finding learning difficult, she always went to school smiling and happy. We have been so fortunate to live and work in St Andrews school and church community where our children, particularly Sophie was held and looked after so well. She loved her school years, the trips, dancing and especially her friends. 


At the age of 3 Sophie began baby ballet and it was the start of her love of dance. She performed 3 times at ‘Lets Dance’ at the Dome was in several shows including, Hello Dolly, Jesus Christ Superstar and more recently Hairspray. The excitement and joy for Sophie at these times are memories we will always treasure. She would often sit at the computer for hours watching the videos of her dancing back.
She had recently joined the Shoreham dance school iStar which she initiated herself with her new college friend Cass. Sophie always found her way. We are so proud...


We have received many cards of condolences since Sophie was ill and since she has died. A common theme was Sophie’s kindness. Soph never had a bad word for anyone. She cared and enriched so many lives, ours included. Her heart was pure and not tainted. We sometimes feel we underestimated her but we now know we all had so much to learn from our Sophie. Non judgemental, determined and loyal. A beautiful soul.


A huge comfort for us is that for her short life Sophie was happy. She exuded happiness, of being  part of our family, both immediate and extended. Indeed, it’s possible that Sophie enjoyed more happiness than many of us will experience in a life time. She loved her Grandparents, Aunties, uncle’s, cousins and was absolutely over the moon when Kate and Hannah’s little babies arrived. She loved playing with them and looking after them and having her photo taken with them. She really embraced her family, loving family events, outings,  holidays and Christmas and birthdays. A few years back my family organised a big coming together of the younger generation in the New Forest. We all came along from France, UK, Canada and America and had such a good few days. Sophie really embraced such events, marvelling at how big our family was and that she was a part of it. 


Our Sophie absolutely loved Christmas and birthdays. These times are going to be so difficult without u Soph but we are going to trust that you will be with us always. We had some family traditions that went with these times, one of these was choosing a Christmas tree at Pyecoombe Garden Centre.  We loved this day, normally the second Saturday in December, but this had moved  to the  first Saturday under  huge pressure from Sophie. We would pick a tree, size and cost debated, have some hot chocolate and a sausage sandwich at the cafe and then return home to decorate the tree. Whilst going through the thousands of pictures I recently noticed the size of our Christmas tree was much smaller before the children arrived but over time as they grew bigger, the size of the tree started to grow with them. I can’t remember when or how this happened! I was always looking at the price but Sophie and Ted always managed to find the perfect tree. Sophie always wanted to put the star on the top and Soph you will always be our star. 


Sophie also loved playing games, a particular favourite of hers was Spoons (taught by her Godmother Sandie) which is a card game linked with fast physical activity of grabbing spoons and that would often result in a family brawl. I would always try and cheat." Sophie always had the measure of me but quickly picked up my bad habits.


We have been so lucky to enjoy many amazing holidays with Sophie, from the family camping trips to Cornwall, to visiting Auntie Sarah and cousins in France, to countless trips up the M40 to Birmingham and Kidderminster, visiting Stephen,  Claire & Orla in Devon, Laura & Joe in Liverpool, and Sandie on the welsh border. Sophie loved these trips away and staying with our friends and family, we will cherish these memories so so much...
One major highlight and something we are so pleased we did was take a family trip to New York a couple of years back.This was a beautiful week which coincided with Halloween, something the New Yorkers do in style. Sophie absolutely adored this, walking round the neighbourhood seeing the amazingly decorated houses. 
We remember Ted and Sophie’s faces light up when we gave them the tickets on their birthday. Such lovely memories, worth everything to us now.


Sophie has followed and been a fan of Hailee Steinfeld, an actor and singer who was 
in the Pitch Perfect film series. Through the fan zone, Sophie had made friends and she had 2 close friends that she had been speaking with. One of these, Erin, lives in Glasgow and Sophie asked me last year if she could go and visit. It had to be Glasgow didn’t it?? How could I do this safely.. we don’t know Erin. We’ve seen her on FaceTime.., could Sophie go up on the train? well after a few debates, I reluctantly agreed  to drive her there in August. Well, now how i treasure that trip, going up the motorway, stopping at service stations, having fun in the car pronouncing the Scottish names, staying the night in a hotel and Sophie meeting Erin, a true friend. The Hailee fan base introduced Soph to a wider group of Hailee fans across the world that have supported Sophie over the last few months. 


How we will miss you Sophie. You really have generated smiles on those who love you. From Aunty Marie and Granny who would never stop giving you chocolate and sweets, to the French cousins arranging the Easter hunt, to all your cousins who adored you. Sophie loved especially going up to the Midlands with Mom. They would often get the train whilst I was working and how she loved staying at Granny’s or Aunty Maries and seeing her cousins and the babies. The family get togethers will not be the same but you will always be remembered and talked about with a smile and a tear.


Sophie, we will miss you. Mom will miss shopping and going to the cinema with you.  Ted will miss the opportunity to annoy you, I will miss your ‘dad’ looks at me. The Dad you’re  weird, and looks of disdain when I wound you up. Sophie we will miss you darting up the stairs to sit between us in our bed and chat, will miss you hogging the bathroom. We will miss your hugs, your love and affection. We will miss you coming in the door, the happiness your brought to our home and family. Sophie Rose, We love you to the moon and back a million times. 🌹💕