Friends work to complete 13-year-old's bucket list


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KAYSVILLE — Funeral services were held Friday for a 13-year-old girl who died unexpectedly in her Kaysville home Monday morning from unknown causes. Investigators say there are no signs of foul play in Rebecca Tibbitts' death.

Just last week, Rebecca and her best friend, Hannah Funk, had made a "bucket list" of things they wanted to do this summer. When she heard the bad news, Hannah decided she was still going to finish that list in honor of Rebecca.

"I want it to be done because that's what she would want," the 13-year-old said.

The bucket list included things like swimming in the creek near their homes, tanning on their trampoline and hunting frogs.

The list also included sidewalk chalk art, which is exactly what Rebecca's friends did outside her home Friday. That way her parents could see it when they came home from her funeral.

"I know they've been going through some hard times, but I know that if we can help them then it'll just make it easier for them," said Hailey Horner, another of Rebecca's friends.

"If Becca were here right now, she'd be wanting to do the same thing for us. So I wanted to do it for her," said Kaylyn Voss, also a friend.

It's not easy for kids this age to deal with death — knowing they won't graduate with Rebecca, see her at the prom or giggle at boys who asked her out. So doing this bucket list for their friend was a way for all of them to deal with it together.

"The intent was to make it so there was a little brightness in this sad day," said Alison Sorenson, a Tibbitts family friend.

The girls' artwork didn't end up being the Mona Lisa, but it didn't have to be.

"I'm just happy because she's happy, and that's all that matters," Kaylyn said.

"Everyone loved her," Hanna said. "Whenever she would come anywhere, she'd always smile; and everyone loved her."

This Sunday, Rebecca's friends are going to do another item on that list: releasing balloons into the air. More than 200 white balloons will be sent up over Kaysville. One friend said she hope those balloons will reach Rebecca.

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Alex Cabrero

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