Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:23 AM Yesterday

Memorial for Fionna

Some of you may remember the post I made about losing our Fionna back in December. My grief was deep, and still is, but it is getting better little by little. We were finally able to have a family memorial for her yesterday, and this is part of that.

Some of you asked me to post pictures, so I will do that, too. I hope they aren't too big, but I'm too tired to make them smaller tonight and I need to do this now. She deserves to be big anyway!

Memorial for Fionna

We have lost our beloved Fionna. She was the love of our lives, a one of a kind girl. She was not like most other dogs. She was a sable and white Border Collie, and they are just different. Not only was she beautiful, she was incredibly smart, and funny, and innovative on her own. She had a huge vocabulary and understood every word we said to her. We could speak to her like we would to a young child, and she knew what we meant. She had a sense of humor. She liked to play what she saw as jokes on us, or sometimes she would playfully hide things from us. We could tell she thought it was funny from her big smile and laughing eyes. She could run like the wind and loved doing so. She devised her own games with balls or other toys, and came up with her own "agility courses" at the dog park. We had almost 15 wonderful years with her. I miss her more than I can adequately express. We all do. She will forever be my sweet baby girl, my "little red dog." We are blessed to have known her and loved her as a part of our family. Be at peace, sweet girl, and run free.

Baby Fi




Fi in her prime


63 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Memorial for Fionna (Original Post) Silver Gaia Yesterday OP
Beautiful !!!! Conncentrate on the great memories.... Karadeniz Yesterday #1
Thanks. Yes, that is what I am trying to do. Silver Gaia Yesterday #5
Fiona Clouds Passing Yesterday #2
What a lovely image. Thank you! Silver Gaia Yesterday #7
What a beautiful memorial oberle Yesterday #3
Thank you. Silver Gaia Yesterday #9
Thank you for sharing this evocative description... 3catwoman3 Yesterday #4
Thank YOU. Silver Gaia Yesterday #10
Beautiful tribute to your beloved Fi. SheltieLover Yesterday #6
Thank you, Sheltie. Silver Gaia Yesterday #11
A beautiful border collie! 70sEraVet Yesterday #8
Ah, yes! You know what I'm talking about. Silver Gaia Yesterday #12
During the Depression, my grandparents' Border Collie saved the family's lives! raging moderate Yesterday #13
Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful story. Silver Gaia Yesterday #15
I believe her name was Lassie. raging moderate Yesterday #17
Lassie was a fitting name for her! :) Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #23
I understand. Such a nice tribute. I hope you feel better. Walleye Yesterday #14
Thank you. Silver Gaia Yesterday #16
What a beautiful lady. AltairIV Yesterday #18
Thank you. Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #24
What a beautiful dog and a beautiful tribute. MIButterfly Yesterday #19
I know... that face... Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #25
Thank you so much for sharing your tribute, JMCKUSICK Yesterday #20
Thank you... Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #26
Such a beautiful baby girl. Thank you for sharing your love and joy niyad Yesterday #21
Thank you, niyad. Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #27
We lost our friend angrychair Yesterday #22
I am so sorry. I understand that, though. Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #29
So beautiful. I am sorry for your loss. LoisB 23 hrs ago #28
Thank you. Silver Gaia 23 hrs ago #30
What beautiful memories you have of your time with Fionna... bsiebs 23 hrs ago #31
I am happy to have reminded you Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #36
Unbelievably beautiful moonbeam23 23 hrs ago #32
Thank you. Yes, she was a radiant beauty. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #37
Our Marco dog will be 12 yo soon... marcopolo63 23 hrs ago #33
She would have loved your Marco. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #39
Border Collies are people. I'm sorry their lives are so much shorter than our lives. 1WorldHope 22 hrs ago #34
Yes. Border Collies are people. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #40
💧💔 littlemissmartypants 22 hrs ago #35
💔 😢 Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #41
A beautiful tribute to your adorable Fi. virgdem 22 hrs ago #38
Thank you so much, virgdem. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #42
A smart and beautiful girl. stage left 22 hrs ago #43
Yes. She was as smart as she was beautiful. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #46
I'm so very sorry for your loss. StarryNite 22 hrs ago #44
Thank you, StarryNite. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #47
She was happy, she knew she was loved. StarryNite 21 hrs ago #50
I feel she is sometimes with us and sometimes running far and exploring her new environment. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #62
It's terribly painful to lose them. StarryNite 55 min ago #63
Silver Gaia....... Upthevibe 22 hrs ago #45
Thank you. Silver Gaia 22 hrs ago #48
For Fionna and you George McGovern 22 hrs ago #49
Thank you, George. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #56
She was gorgeous. BlueKota 21 hrs ago #51
Thank you. She was indeed a gorgeous girl. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #57
What a lovely tribute to a beautiful and well-loved family member! brer cat 21 hrs ago #52
Thank you, brer cat. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #58
Dear Silver Gaia Bayard 21 hrs ago #53
Oh, she was most definitely a "Very Good Girl!" Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #59
It is hard to say goodbye to a family member LetMyPeopleVote 19 hrs ago #54
Saying goodbye is so very hard. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #60
Such a pretty girl! ribrepin 8 hrs ago #55
Thank you, ribrepin. Silver Gaia 7 hrs ago #61

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
9. Thank you.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:50 AM
Yesterday

This is what we had engraved on the urn that now holds her ashes:

Sweet Baby Girl, you were the love of our lives.
We loved you the first time we saw you,
and will love you to the end of time.
Forever Loved, Never Forgotten.


Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
11. Thank you, Sheltie.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:53 AM
Yesterday

I am happy to share her. She loved everyone. Well, she thought everyone should love her! And she loved back.

70sEraVet

(5,349 posts)
8. A beautiful border collie!
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:46 AM
Yesterday

I once had a border collie, and he was a rascal and a half. You're right -- there's something about them that sets them apart from other breeds.
They know TOO much, sometimes!
Sorry for your loss, Silver.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
12. Ah, yes! You know what I'm talking about.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 09:56 AM
Yesterday

Border Collies are something else. They are just special. You are right that sometimes they know too much! And yes, she was so beautiful. Thank you for your post.

raging moderate

(4,608 posts)
13. During the Depression, my grandparents' Border Collie saved the family's lives!
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:05 AM
Yesterday

With my grandfather's severe asthma problem, back in the early 20th century, he still supported his family with his commercial & newspaper artwork. And my grandmother used her piano skills to earn money as needed by giving piano lessons. But the Great Depression got them kicked out of these endeavors and out of the home they had been buying. So they had a dreadful time, during which they and their children actually went without food for a couple of days, a few times. Finally, they decided to turn their Border Collie loose, in their new slum neighborhood, because they could no longer feed her. However, at the end of that day, this dog suddenly reappeared at their apartment door, barking furiously. When they opened the door, she trotted in with a large well-wrapped package containing several bunches of meat, which saved their lives and hers. She was a wonderful dog!

MIButterfly

(2,310 posts)
19. What a beautiful dog and a beautiful tribute.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:37 AM
Yesterday

Oh, that face! ❤️ Dear Silver Gaia, I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like such a wonderful member of your family. I wish I had the words to comfort you. I hope that you will be able to take some comfort in the memories of her and all the love and joy she brought to your lives.

Run free, Pretty Girl. You were the best.

With deepest sympathy,
MIButterfly

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
25. I know... that face...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:11 AM
23 hrs ago

It was her face that first made me love her so. She was so expressive with her beautiful face. And her body, too. She had the cutest butt wiggle when she was happy.

She was indeed a wonderful family member. And yes, she was the best!

I will do my best to hold her in my heart with joy and love for as long as I live and then some.

Thank you for your kinds words.

JMCKUSICK

(5,519 posts)
20. Thank you so much for sharing your tribute,
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:39 AM
Yesterday

Fionna was a gorgeous dog and all the attributes she had must've made her a hoot.
God Speed and may your memories soothe you.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
26. Thank you...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:13 AM
23 hrs ago

She was indeed gorgeous, and yes, she was a hoot! I loved that she had a sense of humor. We all talked about that at the family memorial yesterday. She was unique in that way.

niyad

(130,454 posts)
21. Such a beautiful baby girl. Thank you for sharing your love and joy
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:44 AM
Yesterday

wuth us. I know she will be forever in your hearts.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
27. Thank you, niyad.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:16 AM
23 hrs ago

Yes, she was, and always will be, my beautiful baby girl.

I am happy to share her with all of you. She loved all people and all dogs. She was supremely confidant and just felt that everyone should love her, therefore, she should love them, too. That was what we called "Fi logic."

angrychair

(11,897 posts)
22. We lost our friend
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 10:45 AM
Yesterday

17 years ago and we still are not over it. We have never got another dog since he passed away and never will. There was no one better and I miss him every day.

bsiebs

(935 posts)
31. What beautiful memories you have of your time with Fionna...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:25 AM
23 hrs ago

... and thank you for reminding me to give my sweet dog an extra hug...

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
36. I am happy to have reminded you
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:07 PM
22 hrs ago

to give your sweet baby some extra hugs. Our time with them is never long enough.

moonbeam23

(413 posts)
32. Unbelievably beautiful
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:39 AM
23 hrs ago

Never would have guessed her as a Border Collie.

My heart breaks for you.

May you find peace and blessings and may she come back to you.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
37. Thank you. Yes, she was a radiant beauty.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:12 PM
22 hrs ago

And yes, she was a Border Collie! They come in lots of color combos and coat types, but we always just see the black and white ones in the movies.

I will be looking for her when enough time has passed...

marcopolo63

(94 posts)
33. Our Marco dog will be 12 yo soon...
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:56 AM
23 hrs ago

Your Fiona was a beauty! I bet she would’ve liked Marco, but then again maybe not. 🥴

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
39. She would have loved your Marco.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:20 PM
22 hrs ago

She loved all dogs, and people, too!

The first thing she did when she met a new dog, after the sniffing part, of course, was to go into play stance. Then, she would give the dog her "look" and take off running, daring them to chase her. If they played chase, then they were BFFs. 🙂 She was pretty irresistable, as well as insistent, so that was usually the outcome. LOL

StarryNite

(12,018 posts)
44. I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:29 PM
22 hrs ago

She was a beauty inside and out. The Earth is always a sadder place without them. Your family was lucky to have her and she was lucky to have you.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
62. I feel she is sometimes with us and sometimes running far and exploring her new environment.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:29 AM
7 hrs ago

I felt her with us constantly when we first brought her ashes home (before we got the ashes, I could not find her and felt lost), and that was good and needed. But as time has progressed, I feel her presence in our home less, and that is as it should be. I want her to feel free to run like she always loved to do and could not in the weeks before we lost her. It just hurts so bad to let her go...

StarryNite

(12,018 posts)
63. It's terribly painful to lose them.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 10:01 AM
55 min ago

And yes, they do seem to visit less over time but they still will drop in to check on us.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
48. Thank you.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:45 PM
22 hrs ago

They can make us feel such brilliant, sparkling joy with their lives, and such deep, profound sorrow when they are suddenly gone.

George McGovern

(11,171 posts)
49. For Fionna and you
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:47 PM
22 hrs ago

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.  When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent. Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together ~
(Adapted from - William N. Britton)

BlueKota

(5,137 posts)
51. She was gorgeous.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:10 PM
21 hrs ago

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how much it hurts. In my heart I believe you will see her again, in the after life to come.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
57. Thank you. She was indeed a gorgeous girl.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:09 AM
7 hrs ago

My heart aches for the loss of that beauty in my life, for she was beautiful both inside and out. I hope you are right and that I will see her again, in this life, in the afterlife, or in the next life.

brer cat

(27,443 posts)
52. What a lovely tribute to a beautiful and well-loved family member!
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:19 PM
21 hrs ago

I am sorry for your great loss, but glad that you have all of these wonderful memories to keep her alive in your heart.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
58. Thank you, brer cat.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:11 AM
7 hrs ago

She was most definitely a cherished member of our family. We are all grieving, but doing our best to focus on all the memories we have of her and share them with each other.

Bayard

(28,990 posts)
53. Dear Silver Gaia
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:50 PM
21 hrs ago

I'm so sorry you lost your beautiful Fiona. She sounds like a, Very Good Girl.

I know your whole body and mind hurt. Take care of yourself.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
59. Oh, she was most definitely a "Very Good Girl!"
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:15 AM
7 hrs ago

She could be naughty and headstrong, but in a fun way, and she was so pretty, all she had to do was smile and we forgave her.

I am doing my best to take care of myself in body, mind, and spirit. It is not easy because I am quite ill as well, but I am trying. Thank you.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
60. Saying goodbye is so very hard.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:17 AM
7 hrs ago

I'm glad you enjoyed reading my tribute to Fionna. It was so hard to write, but only in that the tears flowed as easily as the words as I wrote it. Thank you.

Silver Gaia

(5,308 posts)
61. Thank you, ribrepin.
Sat Feb 7, 2026, 03:20 AM
7 hrs ago

She was the prettiest I have ever seen. There will not be another like her in my life. Her beauty was soul-deep and so was out connection. She deserves to "fly high with the angels." Bless you for those words.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Pets»Memorial for Fionna