Nia's casket was carried
into the church by the family of her father as
the song "Jesus Loves Me" was played. Children
in the church sang
along and blew bubbles in honor of Nia.
"There's a general feeling of relief and sadness"
Iva Singsam - Nia's Aunt
.
.
Nia's father, Glassie Glassie Jr. stood by her casket
in the church.
This day would mark the end of Nia's Tangi,
which focussed on many reminders of her short life of innocence. Nia was
taken to her final
resting place near her paternal Grandfather.
.
.
In Tokoroa, New Zealand, family and friends brought
the casket which contained the body of Nia Glassie, into the cemetery after
her funeral
service which was held at the St. Luke's Pacific
Islander Church. There were about 500 people there to say good bye to Nia
while she was
remembered in a simple service.
On August 9, 2007, Nia was buried in a small, white
coffin. Children
who were there had learned a song to sing for Nia.
It went something like this, "The most precious thing in my hear
is my little mokopuna,
my little mokopuna, don't you smack my mokopuna".
There were
about 40 children from three Cook Island Maori
preschools, with some being the same age as Nia, who came with their parents
or
teachers to visit St. Luke's community center in
Tokoroa where Nia
was laid to rest. Teachers spoke of what a privilege
it is to care for
children:
"I think everyone agrees, it's not an easy
job, but it's
our chosen path to look after our little
ones"
Maruia Turia - Teacher Supervisor
.
.
.
Nia's Grandfather, Grassie Grassie Sr. sits by
her gravestone
Go
back to Nia's story
Tangi – Maori funeral practice
The Tangi or Tangihanga embraces the funeral rites
accorded a person before the body is finally interred. The Maori belief
is that the tupapaku (body of the deceased person) should not be
left on its own at any stage after death. Hence people will gather to take
the tupapaku from the funeral practice to the marae, or place where it
will lie in the company of people until burial. Family and friends may
come and go from this place as they wish, or they may remain until after
the actual burial.
All people, including relatives arriving for a Tangi,
will go through the usual karanga (the call of welcome) and mihi
(greeting)
procedures.
The coffin is left open, and people will touch the
tupapaku. Speeches will be made directly to the tupapaku in the belief
that the spirit does not leave the vicinity of the body until the burial.
Return to where you left off
at the word Tangi
For information about preventing child abuse in New
Zealand, click the links below. If they can't help you, ask for someone
who can. NEVER give up looking for help for an abused child!
Call this number to report
child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
  
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