Mourning for Fabian: 550 people say goodbye at the service in Güstrow

Mourning for Fabian: 550 people say goodbye at the service in Güstrow

In Güstrow, around 550 people said goodbye to eight-year-old Fabian, who was tragically found murdered in a pond three weeks ago. The funeral service took place in the parish church of St. Mary's, where a moving picture of the little boy, depicted as an angel, was placed. The emotional ceremony was opened by Pastor Jens-Peter Schulz and the mourners had taken all their seats in the church. In addition, around 200 other visitors followed the service on a screen in front of the church, as Bild reports.

Fabian's mother, Dorina L., came dressed in black and sat in the front row, visibly grief-stricken. His father was also there early to pay his final respects. The sports community was represented by numerous footballers from ETSV Güstrow, including Fabian's coach, who showed another expression of community in their tracksuits. Around 140 children from Güstrow painted pennants for Fabian, which were visible during the ceremony. Black ribbons adorned the aisle of the church, and a collection for his family was collected at the entrance.

One last greeting

The funeral service was accompanied by music from the organist, who played Eric Clapton's “Tears in Heaven” at 5:30 p.m. The mourners had the opportunity to write their wishes on the back of the song sheets provided with the title “There lives a longing deep within us”. As a souvenir, cuddly toys and a blue football were brought to the church to reflect little Fabian's heart.

But the pain felt by the community and especially Fabian's family is compounded by the lack of understanding that investigators have not yet been able to identify a suspect. The public prosecutor's office has been keeping a low profile for weeks and is not releasing any information to the press. According to Statista, death and the fears associated with it are part of life, and many people find it difficult to talk about it. The uncertain future, one's own death and the death of loved ones often lead to worries and noticeable fear.

While the loss of a child brings with it incredible suffering, the social taboo surrounding death often makes grief even more difficult. Around a million people in Germany are affected by the issue, and the discussion about euthanasia remains controversial. In this country, active euthanasia is punishable, while assisted suicide has been unpunished since the beginning of 2020. The questions surrounding decisions in the event of incapacity are an important topic for many that are often not discussed enough.

In this context it becomes clear how important it is to deal with your own wishes at an early stage. The funeral service in Güstrow shows how a community comes together to honor a child and find support in difficult times. Although the commemoration is marred by the horror of the circumstances, something of his warm nature and joy of life will live on in the love and memories of Fabian.