The queue outside the Great Church in Old Town in Stockholm was ringing long, full of women in particular, already an hour before the funeral began at 13 o'clock on Friday. The dew-rain was persistent, pink and orange flower creations lit up in all the gray as they were carried into the church. Inside, they were built into a monument to Sara Danius's famous Nobel dress from last year's awards ceremony.
At the top of the choir was Sara Danius's large family. In connection with it, at the front of the church, sat the friends - many from the Swedish cultural elite. Actors, writers and prominent journalists. From the Swedish Academy, members Peter Englund and Kjell Espmark appeared, as well as former member Sara Stridsberg.
"A final time"On the front of the funeral program: a long-haired Sara Danius with a see-through look and big black sunglasses on her head. After Chopin's heavy grief march, Archbishop Antje Jackelén began his grievance:
- One last time we met with Sara physically in our midst. Once again there is celebration, beauty and style around her. Today we embrace her in gratitude for her life, for all she has been given and given. Here we can express our sorrow and missingness and hand it over to the Creator's loving and innovative hands, she said.
"Fear less"The Archbishop went on to paint a complex picture of an educated daughter, big sister and mother. Someone who has faced challenges in life and taken on them, who have taken for granted. A woman who was good at details and through them painted a whole. One man, who after the cancer returned, said: "the risk is greater, the fear less".
A quartet from Stockholm's cathedral choir sang world-class while hundreds of people, one by one, came forward to say goodbye. Together they formed a mountain of flowers in front of the coffin.
A funeral, as sad and beautiful as it should be.