A White Tent Over Fresh Earth
A sombre mood hung over Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta on Sunday (8 February) as family and friends gathered to bid farewell to Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani.
The six-year-old was laid to rest under a white funeral tent, with folding chairs arranged for mourners who continued arriving throughout the late morning. Many came dressed in dark clothing, carrying flowers and rose water to scatter over her grave.
Fresh petals blanketed the still-damp soil. Jasmine flowers were carefully arranged into a heart shape, while several stalks of sunflowers stood in front of her wooden headstone — a quiet tribute to a child remembered for her bright personality.
Sheyna had been a kindergarten pupil in Jakarta.
“Truly Like a Fairy”
Speaking to Kumaparan News, Rara, the sister of Sheyna’s mother Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi (31), described her niece as a joyful presence in the lives of those around her.
“Kalau Sheyna ya anaknya yang pasti dia baik dan periang banget anaknya. Bener-bener kayak fairy (peri), pokoknya menyenangkan orang. Pasti kalau ngelihat dia itu anak yang menyenangkan sekali sih gitu,” she said at the cemetery on Sunday.
According to Rara, the outpouring of support from extended family and friends reflected how deeply Sheyna was loved.
“Makanya tadi juga yang datang Alhamdulillah banyak yang support. Yang support Nana, yang support Raisha juga banyak banget. Baik di sana juga saya lihat di Singapura juga banyak yang support juga,” she added.
Mourners continued to gather as they awaited the arrival of Sheyna’s body from the funeral home earlier that day.
Mother Still Receiving Treatment
Raisha remains hospitalised in Singapore after sustaining serious injuries in the same incident.
“Iya masih dirawat. Pokoknya doain aja biar cepat sehat, cepat pulih, biar bisa balik ke Jakarta, ke Indonesia lagi. Karena kami keluarga besar kan di Jakarta,” Rara said.
The family hopes she will recover soon and return to Indonesia to reunite with relatives.
Brief Account of the Incident
Sheyna died after being struck by a car while crossing South Bridge Road during a family trip on Friday (6 February) at around 11:50am local time. The location was near the entrance and exit of a car park close to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown.
She was taken to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
On Sunday afternoon in Jakarta, the focus shifted from the details of the accident to remembrance — a small grave covered in flowers, a heart made of jasmine, and the words of an aunt who said the six-year-old was “bener-bener kayak fairy.”
Currently
Friends and former classmates of Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, Sheyna’s mother, have launched a fundraising drive to help cover her medical costs while she remains in intensive care.
The University of Indonesia alumni association appealed for donations to Raisha’s husband’s account, sharing prayers for Raisha’s full recovery and strength for the family during this difficult time.
Watch a video here.
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