In Loving Memory
Our Beautiful Daughter
Like the selkies of Celtic myth who shed their seal skins to walk on land, her spirit now moves freely between worlds, bringing magic wherever she goes.
"Between the sea and shore, in the space between worlds, there you'll find me."
— Celtic Selkie Legend
Saoirse
In her name, the music of the sea lives on. Whisper it softly: “SEER-sha.”
The first breath like the wind through coastal rowans, The second gentle as waves touching shore.
Two syllables that held a universe of love, Two days that changed our hearts forever.
When you speak her name, let it rise from deep within, Like the selkie’s call across still waters.
“SEER-sha” – freedom’s sound, carried on the tide, Connecting earth to ocean, memory to love.
Her name is both anchor and sail, A reminder that some souls, though brief in visit, Leave echoes that never fade.
Your tiny feet
never felt the grass
and your little nose
never got to smell
A beautiful spring day.
Your fine hair
never danced in the wind
But your little ears
have heard your mother sing.
Your small hands
never got a chance to play
and your little legs
never stood upon this world.
But you did know love
and you felt that your mommy, daddy and
your family
will love you forever
Saoirse's Journal
May 8 - May 11, 2025
Here we share the story of our daughter Saoirse – our little selkie who was with us for one beautiful day. Her journey was brief but filled with profound love.
These are our words to her, our memories with her, and the love that will never fade. We invite you to read her story and know our precious girl.
Saoirse - Our Little Selkie
Saoirse’s name was chosen from the beautiful animated film “Song of the Sea,” where the young girl Saoirse discovers she is a selkie – a mythical being from Celtic folklore. In the legend, selkies are magical creatures who shed their seal skins to become human on land.
Now more than ever, we see our Saoirse as our little selkie. Like the mythical beings who must return to the sea, our daughter was called back to the ocean too soon. But just as selkies leave behind their love and magic when they return to the waves, Saoirse has left us with an extraordinary love that will never fade.
The film speaks of love that transcends physical presence, of bonds that can never truly be broken, and of the magic found in the sea’s eternal embrace. These themes have become profoundly meaningful to us.
Ride the waves
Like the sea, grief comes in waves. Sometimes the waters are calm, allowing brief moments of peace. Other times, the waves crash without warning, overwhelming and powerful. We cannot stop these waves—we can only learn to ride them.
Saoirse, our little selkie, knew the call of the ocean in her name and in her spirit. In Celtic tradition, selkies move between worlds, belonging both to land and sea. Now she has returned to those mystical waters, leaving us on the shore to navigate the tides of memory and love.
Each day, we ride these waves together. Some mornings, the sea of grief is stormy and turbulent. Some evenings, it’s quiet and reflective. Through it all, we hold tight to each other and to the precious moments we shared with our daughter.
This journey has no map, no destination, just the constant ebb and flow. Yet in riding these waves, we carry Saoirse with us—in every tear that falls, in every memory we cherish, in every moment of unexpected grace.
The waves will never stop coming, but with time, we hope to become more skilled sailors. And somewhere beyond the horizon, where sky meets sea, our little selkie swims freely, guiding us forward with the love she brought into our lives.
Maria & Sebastiaan