Phoebe Lucile Holland-Thompson, born Aug. 28, 2005, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2011 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. She was 5½ years old.

An artist, dancer, doctor, nurse, mommy, collector, pilot, director, chef, restaurateur, shopkeeper, and fairy, she was, above all else, the beloved child of Kerry Holland and Caleb Thompson. Phoebe knew unconditional love, and died peacefully at home in the arms of her parents.

Phoebe was a loving, sweet spirit. She was also a child who knew what she wanted and made sure everyone else knew it, too. Never one to hold back when expressing her opinion and her feelings, Phoebe left a deep impression on all who met her. She was beautiful, feisty, fun, silly, serious, bossy, practical and imaginative. She believed fairies and mermaids were real, and loved to build and draw fairy houses. She often said that when she died, she wanted to come back as a fairy.

Phoebe suffered through more trauma and medical interventions than most people experience in a lifetime. Though this suffering changed her in many ways, she remained a child who lived in the present moment and knew great joy and the most profound love. In this way, she was a teacher to all.

Her body now lies peacefully in the back corner of the Langley cemetery. All are welcome to visit the fairy garden that marks her grave.

Phoebe’s family is deeply grateful to this loving and supportive community, and asks that condolences and sympathies be expressed by donations to the Whidbey Island Waldorf School or Good Cheer.