Our hearts ache for the Ruberto and Catana families, who lost their tiny Evie Rose this year. Evie’s friends and family have chosen to commemorate her life with a forest. One hundred and fifty trees have been planted at Mt Worth, Gippsland, VIC in her memory.

Each tree holds the promise of a long, beautiful, generous life. Each tree will become an integral part of its ecosystem. Each tree will sway in the wind, lift its arms to the sky, and connect deeply with the earth round its feet. The joy and heartbreak of Evie’s short time earth-side will never leave those who loved her.

Evie’s family have written this tribute.

 

In loving memory, we plant these trees for our little Evie Rose Ruberto.

Daughter of Lola and Fabian, sister to Eliza. Loved by the Ruberto and Catana family, and all their friends. Amongst these trees for all time, we will think of her dancing and playing and living in a way she would not have been able to in life.

On this earth, Evie was with us for only a short time before we had to say a heartbreaking goodbye. So short a time was spent in her mother’s loving womb and in the loving arms of her parents. A short time that saw so much love, affection and joy.

Like Evie, our lands, nature and the precious time spent within them hold a special place in the hearts of Fabian and Lola. To these brave and loving parents and to sister Eliza, we hope this dedication evokes Evie’s spirit and connects you to her wherever you set up camp, or wander down a forest track.

Evie, we plant these 150 trees for you.

140 for each of the days of your life, another 10 from those who love you.

One from your mum, one from your dad, and one from your sister.

One from your Nonna Josie.

One from your Nonno Anthony and your Granma Fiona.

One from your Uncle Mark and your Aunty Beth.

One from Mary, Darryl and Luca.

One from Vincent, from Mel, Adam, Jonah and Leo, from Liz, Guy, Averia and Eliana, from David and Gab.

One from Jane, from Jo and Jay, from Anthony, Daniq, Zac and Lea.

One on behalf of the Catana family.

May these trees represent our immense and enduring love, and the joy your short life brought us all. May they be a safe and enchanting home for your eternal spirit.

May they grow tall and strong, forever.

We hope Evie Rose’s legacy of trees will bring some comfort. And we hope forests – her own and others – will always hold for us a tender echo of those who were vital, adored, and so missed.

Writer Sarah Hart

Sarah is an artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. You can find Sarah here.